Diseño de sistemas agroecológicos con sombra diversificada en cafetales de Soteapan, Ver.

Coffee is the fifth national crop in planted area and Mexico is one of the leading producers worldwide, mainly carried up by indigenous farmers. The production system is traditionally performed under shade tres and coffee agroecosystemsconstitute a production system with different components which can provide multiple benefits. The change towards open sun systems has had the effect of producing a lower quality coffee, plus consequential losses of diversity, soil loss bywater erosion and decreased water provisioning. On the other hand, the instability of markets makes vulnerable the income of producers. One alternative to improve the conditions of farmers and increase the environmental services these agroecosystems is certification by organizations that promote alternative markets such as Rainforest Alliance and Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center (Bird Friendly), and product diversification with other associated crops. The aim of this study was to design agroecological systems that promote diversification of species of shade coffee agroecosystems in six ejidos in the municipality of Soteapan, Veracruz, for identifying this tree species (fruit, timber, medicinal), mainly native, for diversifyingproduction and income sources in coffee agroecosystems. For this we considered the biophysical characteristics of the region, local species used for coffee shade, but also those that are of interest to producers, developing the framework of selection criteria, which considers specific criteria (desirable characteristics, uses, height and crown diameter). From this, a weighting of criteria and a final selection was carried out. 46 species were identified and classified into three strata (high,medium, low) according to their height, according to the presence of their foliage throughout the year (evergreen and deciduous). Based on the guidelines of Rainforest Alliance and Bird Friendly, the following criteria for the design of agroforestry systems were defined: at least twelve native species of tres ha-1, with a minimum density of 70 trees ha-1 with minimal shade coverage of 40%, all the year, with a canopy minimum height of 15 m, two arboreal strata with different species and a dominant species that does not exceed 60% of the species present.The distribution of 46 identified species are adjusted to these criteria and a proposal by ejido was built. The proposal should be submitted for consideration by the producers involved in the project which this thesis is part of.