As both coffee quality and sustainability become increasingly important, there is growing interest in understanding how ecological quality affects coffee quality. Here we analyze, for the first time, the state of evidence that ecological quality, in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, impacts the quality of Coffea arabica and C. canephora , based on 78 studies. The following ecosystem functions were included: pollination; weed, disease, and pest control; water and soil fertility regulation. Biodiversity was described by the presence, percentage, and diversity of shade trees. Coffee quality was described by the green bean physical characteristics, biochemical compounds, and organoleptic characteristics. The presence and diversity of shade trees positively impacted bean size and weight and reduced the percentage of rejected beans, but these observations were not consistent over different altitudes. In fact, little is known about the diversity of shade trees and their influence on biochemical compounds. All biochemical compounds varied with the presence of shade, percentage of shade, and elevation. Coffee beans from more diverse tree shade plantations obtained higher scores for final total organoleptic quality than simplified tree shade and unshaded plantations. Decreasing ecological quality diminished ecosystem functions such as pollination, which in turn negatively affected bean quality. Shade affected pests and diseases in different ways, but weeds were reduced. High soil quality positively affected coffee quality. Shade improved the water use efficiency, such that coffee plants were not water stressed and coffee quality was improved. While knowledge on the influence of shade trees on overall coffee quality remains scarce, there is evidence that agroecosystem simplification is negatively correlated with coffee quality. Given global concerns about biodiversity and habitat loss, we recommend that the overall definition of coffee quality include measures of ecological quality, although these aspects are not always detectable in certain coffee quality characteristics or the final cup.

La investigación basada en arte ofrece formas innovadoras de estudiar las relaciones humanos-naturaleza. En este artículo se presenta un estudio exploratorio con habitantes de la ciudad de La Paz, en Bolivia, usando dibujos como aproximación basada en arte, para entender cómo las personas valoran y se relacionan con las áreas protegidas municipales. Participaron 37 personas en un concurso de dibujo organizado por una de las áreas protegidas municipales. Los participantes representaron algún elemento (paisaje, especies) de las áreas protegidas que consideraron inspirador y reflejo de su importancia. La mayoría dibujó plantas o animales específicos locales, y expresó varias formas de valoración intrínsecas, instrumentales y relacionales. La investigación muestra que una aproximación basada en arte tiene potencial como herramienta investigativa, ya que permite revelar aspectos poco explorados de las relaciones humanos-naturaleza. Se concluye que los valores plurales y el conocimiento ecológico local a través del arte pueden proveer oportunidades para repensar el manejo participativo y la educación ambiental, y diseñar políticas hacia la sustentabilidad.

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