Subject: Is Juan Valdez bad for the birds?

Is Juan Valdez bad for migratory birds? Current research would suggest
that he may be. There are two major ways of growing coffee. The first,
time-honored way, is to grow coffee under a forest overstory (shade
coffee). The second way is to grow coffee without a shade canopy (sun
coffee).

Shade trees protect understory coffee plants from the sun and rain, help
preserve the soil, and provide suitable habitat for many species of birds
which winter in the neotropics. Not only do birds like shade coffee
plantations, but mammals do as well. One study showed a richness of
mammals comparable to that in natural areas. A shade coffee plantation
contains a mix of overstory and understory plants which mimics that found
in some natural areas. Finally, shade coffee TASTES BETTER.

Growing sun coffee produces greater yields for the plantations but this
comes at a price. Conversion to sun coffee can lead to greater soil
erosion and acidification. Sun coffee plants also require the addition
of more chemical fertilizers compared to shade coffee. Studies in
Columbia and Mexico found 94-97% fewer bird species in sun grown coffee
compared to shade grown coffee. Finally, coffee traders frequently refer
to sun coffee as basura - trash coffee (because of its taste). Still, as
the demand for coffee drives the price up, plantations will switch to
full sun fields for their higher yields.

So what is the bottom line? Until companies start labelling their
product there is really only one thing you can do: Whenever possible
purchase coffee grown in Mexico (83% shade grown) and avoid coffee grown
in Columbia (31% shade grown); coffee from Costa Rica may or may not be
shade grown (60% shade).

For more information:

Wille, Chris. 1994. The Birds and the Beans. Audubon, November/December
1994, pp. 58-64.

Why Migratory Birds Are Crazy For Coffee. Smithsonian Migratory Bird
Center Fact Sheet No. 1. Available from: Smithsonian Migratory Bird
Center, National Zoo, Washington, DC 20008

Much of the above information was taken from the above two sources. This
represents my opinion and not necessarily that of my current employer.

Jeff Price
PriceJ at mail.fws.gov