Amazon Interactive
Coffee and Conservation

You chose the moderate income strategy 1 hectare of coffee on secondary 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 $350! You and your family are making a living--barely. You're not clearing the forest as quickly as some of your neighbors, but you can see than you'll have to clear more in a few years. By the time your children are grown, there won't by any tropical forest left on your land.

Some people in your Quichua community are talking about another way to make money--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?