COFFEE CULTIVATION IN PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS. THE CASE OF THE RAMSAR SITE: "TEXOLO WATERFALLS AND SURROUNDING AREA" IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

Coffee cultivation in shaded areas provides multiple environmental benefits and plays an essential role in biodiversity conservation areas, such as sites Ramsar sites, where the aim is to protect natural wetlands. In Veracruz, there are nine Ramsar sites, mostly coastal, of which "Texolo
Waterfalls and surrounding area" is the exception. This is the only continental freshwater wetland in Mexico, where mountain mesophilic forest predominates as well as shaded coffee cultivation. Therefore, its conservation also implies the sustainable management of this agroecosystem. Within this context, the objective was to learn about the problems of coffee production and the willingness of producers to participate in sustainable management proposals that contribute to the protection of the Ramsar site. To this end, 32 questionnaires were applied to coffee producers who have farms in the
site. The main problems related to coffee growing included: aging of producers, low participation by women and young people, environmental deterioration, low technology and production level, low economic profitability, decapitalization, and decrease in coffee quality. Despite this, most coffee growers plan to continue participating in this activity and expressed willingness to participate in sustainable management
actions.