Attitudes and Knowledge of Shade-Coffee Farmers Towards Vertebrates and Their Ecological Functions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess farmers' attitudes, as well as perceptions and knowledge that shape those attitudes, toward the ecological role of vertebrates inhabiting shaded-coffee farms. We also aimed to determine whether differences existed among two groups of farmers: one that had attended environmental education workshops, and one that had not. We conducted 36 oral interviews of farmers in the region of Cuetzalan, Mexico. All farmers were members of an important regional cooperative, Tosepan Titataniske. In general, farmers' attitudes towards birds were positive. Snakes were perceived as useful but dangerous animals. Attitudes towards nonflying mammals were mostly indifferent. Bats were poorly understood and badly perceived. Seed dispersal was perceived as an important ecological function performed by animals. Pollination was also perceived as important, but to a lesser degree. Knowledge about ecological functions was high for seed dispersal, and low for pollination. We found a positive correlation between attendance of educational workshops and the presence of "environmentally-friendly" attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge. However, a cause-effect relationship could not be clearly established. We suggest that environmental education programs include the objective of increasing the knowledge of people about the ecological functions played by different groups of animals that live in agroecosystems. Particular efforts should be directed toward improving the way in which certain non-charismatic groups of animals, such as bats, are perceived.Key Words: Agroecosystem, animal conservation, ecosystem services, environmental education, perceptions. ResumenEl propósito de este estudio fue evaluar las actitudes de agricultores, así como las percepciones y los conocimientos que moldean dichas actitudes, hacia el papel ecológico que juegan los vertebrados en los cafetales de sombra. Asimismo se quiso determinar si existían diferencias entre dos grupos de agricultores: uno que había asistido a talleres de educación ambiental, y otro que no. Realizamos 36 entrevistas orales a agricultores en la región de Cuetzalan, México. Los agricultores eran miembros de una cooperativa regional: Tosepan Titataniske. Las actitudes hacia las aves fueron muy positivas. Las serpientes fueron percibidas como animales útiles, pero peligrosos. Las actitudes hacia los mamíferos no voladores fueron mayormente indiferentes. Los murciélagos fueron poco conocidos y mal percibidos. La dispersión de semillas fue percibida como una función importante realizada por los animales. La polinización también fue percibida como importante, pero en menor escala. El conocimiento sobre las funciones ecológicas fue alto para la dispersión de semillas y bajo para la polinización. Encontramos una correlación positiva entre la asistencia a los talleres educativos y la presencia de actitudes, percepciones y conocimientos "ambientalmente amigables". Sin embargo, no se pudo establecer claramente una relación de causa-efecto. Sugerimos que los progr...

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