Birds and bats can double cacao yields in Peru, study finds
Researchers found that wildlife providing natural pest control could add an estimated US$1,640 per hectare in annual production value.
An international team of researchers led by the University of Vienna found that birds and bats help control pests on organic cacao farms in the northern Peruvian Amazon. According to a report by the Times of India, these animals feed on arthropods that damage cacao flowers and pods, which can nearly double yields in landscapes with high tree density.
The study examined 28 organic cacao agroforests by monitoring wildlife, crop yields, and soil fertility. To assess vegetation and tree cover, the team utilised remote-sensing data and drone imagery. They compared cacao trees accessible to wildlife against trees kept inside enclosures that prevented birds and bats from entering.
In areas with heavy deforestation, cacao yields averaged 265 kilograms per hectare annually. However, in landscapes with moderate forest cover and additional tree crops, yields reached approximately 1,000 kilograms per hectare per year. The researchers estimated the natural pest-control service adds about US$1,640 per hectare in yearly production value.
Senior author Bea Maas of the University of Vienna stated that these animals are valuable allies only when the surrounding landscape provides enough habitat. The research suggests that protecting the wider environment is as important as planting cacao trees.
The study also noted that while shade trees provide benefits, excessively dense canopies can reduce sunlight and lower yields. A varied arrangement of different tree heights and vegetation clusters was found to support biodiversity while maintaining high production levels.