Amazon Interactive
Coffee and Conservation

You chose the maximum income strategy: 2 hectares of coffee on primary forest 1 hectare of cacao on primary forest 1 hectare of maize on secondary forest

Map of your 15 hectare plot of land

You earned $390! That's less than you might have earned in previous years, due to a drop in coffee prices, but it's enough for your family to live on.

You've still got four hectares of primary forest left, but you're beginning to realize that, at this rate, you'll soon run out of it. In a few years, you'll have to plant all your crops in secondary forest--or find another line of work besides farming. Some people in your Quichua community are talking about ecotourism. Instead of farming more land, the community can earn money by bringing in tourists and teaching them about the Quichua way of life. Do you think the community should consider ecotourism? Or would you like to start over with your cash crops?