Amazon Interactive
Coffee and Conservation


 You chosethe moderate income strategy:

  • 1 hectare of coffee on secondary forest
  • 1 hectare of cacao on primary forest
  • 1 hectare of maize on primary forest

Map of your 15 hectare plot of land

You earned $350! But you've only got three hectares of primary forest left.Your family has to walk to to the far end of your land to find medicinalplants. The water in the creek running past your house is always muddy now.There's little shade left to escape the hot noonday sun.

You realize that you have nearly run out of primary forest. Soon you'llhave to plant all your crops in secondary forest--or find another line ofwork besides farming. Some people in your Quichua community are talkingabout ecotourism. Instead of farming more land, the community canearn money by bringing in tourists and teaching them about the Quichua wayof life. Do you think the community should considerecotourism? Or would you like to start over withyour cash crops?


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