Characteristics of households that were interviewed in a study that investigated factors driving tree species in cocoa farms in Cote d'Ivoire

1. Intensive cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire, the World’s leading cocoa producer, has grown at the expense of forest cover. To reverse this trend, the country has adopted a ‘zero deforestation’ agricultural policy and committed to rehabilitate its forest cover through the planting of high-value tree species in cocoa landscapes using a participatory approach. However, less is known on the factors influencing farmers’ introduction of high-value tree species in cocoa landscapes. 2. We tested the hypothesis that ten factors previously reported to influence agroforestry systems adoption predict the number and choice of tree species that farmers introduce in cocoa farms. We interviewed 683 households in the cocoa-producing zone of Côte d’Ivoire and counted tree species in their cocoa farms. 3. On average two tree species were recorded per surveyed farm. Generalized Poisson regression models revealed that cocoa production area, experience in tree planting and expected benefits influence tree species introduction through planting or ‘retention’ when clearing land for cocoa establishment. Age of farmer also influenced (P = 0.017) farmers’ tree species planting in cocoa farms. Few tree species were introduced in current intensive cocoa-production areas than in ‘old cocoa-loop’ and forested areas. The number of tree species introduced in cocoa farms increased with expected benefits and experience in tree planting. The number of planted tree species also increased with farmers’ age. Tree species were mostly selected for provision of shade to cocoa, production of useful tree products (38%) and income from the sale of these products (7%). Fruit tree species were the most planted while timber tree species were mostly spared when clearing land for cocoa production. Synthesis and applications. Agroforestry is gaining momentum in Côte d’Ivoire, as public and private institutions including the World Agroforestry Centre are developing and deploying multi-strata cocoa-based agroforestry systems. The results of the present study can guide the design and implementation of biodiverse cocoa-based agroforestry in the cocoa-producing zones of the country

1. 作为全球最大可可生产国，科特迪瓦（Côte d’Ivoire）的集约化可可种植以森林覆盖面积缩减为代价。为扭转这一态势，该国已推行“零毁林”农业政策，并承诺采用参与式方法，在可可景观（cocoa landscapes）中种植高价值树种，以恢复森林覆盖率。然而，目前学界对影响农户在可可景观中引入高价值树种的因素仍知之甚少。
2. 本研究验证了一项假说：此前被报道会影响农林业系统（agroforestry systems）采用的十大因素，可预测农户在可可农场中引入的树种数量与种类。研究团队在科特迪瓦可可种植区访谈了683户农户，并统计了其可可农场内的树种数量。
3. 受访农场平均记录有2个树种。广义泊松回归（generalized Poisson regression）模型结果显示，可可种植面积、植树经验与预期收益，会影响农户在开垦可可种植用地时，通过种植或“留存”方式引入的树种数量；农户年龄也对其在可可农场种植树种的行为存在显著影响（P = 0.017）。当前集约化可可种植区引入的树种数量，少于“老可可循环区”与林区。农户引入的树种数量随预期收益与植树经验的增加而提升，同时也随农户年龄增长而增多。农户选择树种主要出于三大目的：为可可提供遮荫、生产实用林产品（占比38%）以及售卖林产品获取收入（占比7%）。其中，果树类树种种植占比最高，而在开垦可可种植用地时，用材树种多被保留。
综合与应用。随着世界农林业中心（World Agroforestry Centre）等公共与私营机构研发并推广多层结构可可农林业系统，农林业在科特迪瓦正迎来发展机遇。本研究结果可为该国可可种植区兼具生物多样性的可可农林业系统的设计与实施提供科学指导。