Amazon Interactive
Coffee and Conservation
You chosethe maximum income strategy:
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Map of your 15 hectare plot of land
You earned $390. That's barely enough to support your family. You're still can't payback your debt to your brother, but you promise to pay him back after nextyear's harvest.
But you've only got two hectares of primary forest left. Your family has towalk to the far end of your land to find medicinal plants. The water inthe creek running past your house is always muddy now. There's little shadeleft 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?
