Compared to the environmental and c

Compared to the environmental and conservation value as refuges for biodiversity, less is known about
the social and economic value of shaded coffee systems. The agroforestry system can serve as a source of
non-coffee products for diverse purposes. This study focuses on the role of shade trees in smallholder
coffee farms, examining the wood products derived from the shaded coffee system. Data presented from
surveys with 185 growers in Peru and 153 growers in Guatemala show that the consumption and sale of
all non-coffee products account for a fifth to a third of the total value realized from the agroforestry
system. Fuelwood and construction materials account for much of this value. Differences seen between
countries can be traced to agricultural intensification – the degree to which the coffee agroforestry
system is ‘‘technified’’ (i.e., managed with a reduced shade tree cover and diversity, high-yielding
cultivars, agrochemical inputs, etc.) – as well as the relative demand for wood resources and farmers’
access to natural forest systems.