How to increase the joint provision of ecosystem services by agricultural systems: evidence from coffee-based agroforestry systems.

This research investigates how coffee agroforestry systems can jointly deliver high agricultural productivity and multiple ecosystem services—carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, water quality, and coffee yield. Conducted in Nicaragua’s Matagalpa region, the study quantifies the determinants and interrelations among these services. Findings reveal that well-managed agroforestry systems can achieve high coffee yields with enhanced environmental benefits, driven by diverse shade tree species, optimal nitrogen management, and balanced canopy cover. The authors highlight key technical levers—tree selection, moderate density, and pruning practices—that optimize ecosystem service synergies, offering a pathway for agroecological intensification and sustainable coffee production.