Vincent de Leijster

118 Chapter 6 6.2 Method 6.2.1 Study site This study was conducted on the foot slopes of the Cordillera Occidental (the most western Andean mountain ridge) in the department Risaralda in Colombia. More specifically, in the coffee growing region in the northwestern part of Risaralda (Figure 6-1). Biophysically, this region is characterized by steep slopes (15-50% inclination), an elevation between 1000- 2000 m, and is dominated by Andosols. The mean annual precipitation in this region varies between approximately 1600-2400 mm, with average temperature of 19 ˚C (minimum 15 ˚C, maximum 25 ˚C), while it receives around 1500 hours of sun per year (Jaramillo, 2018). The coffee varieties cultivated in this region are ‘Castillo rosario’, ‘Colombia’, ‘Castillo naranjal’, ‘Catimore’ and ‘Caturra’ (in order of most abundant to less abundant), and plantations are often a mixture of these varieties. The study region is located in the ‘Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia’, which has been recognized by the UNESCO for its cultural heritage (Figure 6-1). In this region, coffee has been one of the most import industries since the 19 th century. Traditionally, coffee was produced in agroforestry systems, but in the 1970s the coffee production sector was intensified with the aim to improve productivity and resistance to coffee leaf rust, to make Colombia a better competitor in the global coffee markets (Guhl, 2002). This intensification resulted in the removal of shade trees, introduction of new coffee varieties, and more targeted use of agrochemical inputs (pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; Avelino et al., 2015; Guhl, 2002). In response to that, tree planting projects have been introduced to improve carbon stocks, biodiversity and water management in the watersheds. More specifically, two large scale tree planting projects have been implemented in collaboration with the National Federation for Coffee Growers (FNC). The most recent project was led by the German Development Bank (KfW; Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau), and involved planting of trees (Cordia alliodora, common name Laurel or Nogal cafetero, and Eucalyptus grandis, common name flooded gum) in coffee fields in the period between 2007 and 2015. Previously, the regional government CARDER (Corporación Autónoma Regional de Risaralda) had initiated a similar project where trees (mostly C. alliodora) were planted between 2001 and 2003 (Collazos Quintana, 2004; FNC, 2011). The history of intensified, unshaded coffee production, and the implementation of tree planting projects over various time scales make this region an adequate case study region for a space-for-time substitution analysis.