Biodiversity conservation through land-use systems on private land is becoming a pressing
environmental policy issue. Agroforestry, such as shade-coffee production, contributes to biodiversity
conservation. However, falling coffee prices force many coffee growers to convert their sites into
economically more attractive land uses. We performed an economic evaluation of coffee pollination by
bees in two distinct tropical regions: an area of low human impact with forests neighboring agroforestry
in Indonesia and an area of high human impact with little remaining forest in Ecuador. We evaluated bee
pollination for different forest-destruction scenarios, where coffee yields depend on forests to provide
nesting sites for bees. We used two novel approaches. First, we examined how coffee net revenues depend
on the pollination services of adjacent forests by considering berry weight in addition to fruit set, thereby
providing a comprehensive evaluation. Second, we determined the net welfare effects of land-use changes,
including the fact that former forestland is normally used for alternative crops. In both regions, crop revenues
exceeded coffee pollination values, generating incentives to convert forests, even if owners would be
compensated for pollination services. The promotion of certified “biodiversity-friendly” coffee is a feasible
option to maintain shade-coffee systems. This is of special importance in high-impact areas where only
small forest fragments remain. We conclude that a comprehensive economic analysis is necessary to
adequately evaluate rainforest preservation for the enhancement of ecosystem services, such as pollination.