Farmer’s practices in coffee agroforests of ‘Guinée forestière': interacting paths over several farmer generations

International audienceIn ‘Guinée forestière’ (Guinea) where the majority of the population depends on the production and trade of agricultural products (especially coffee, palm oil and kola nuts), a significant increase in forest-like vegetation areas has occurred in the last 30 years. The conversion to coffee agroforests surrounding villages and major roads is increasing. These coffee agroforests are composed of a multi-strata structure with coffee and kola trees as well as various other tree species. Coffee agroforests share village-cultivated areas with rice cropping systems and associated natural regenerated stands of native oil palms and new plantations of improved varieties of oil palm. As the equilibrium between these systems is crucial for the economic and ecological sustainability of current cultivation, we need a more refined understanding of coffee agroforest dynamics in Guinée forestière. Nienh and Boussedou were chosen as socioeconomic and agro-ecological representative villages of the western part of Guinée forestière. Surveys were conducted amongst approximately 30 farmers in each village. Our results showed that without farm inputs or external investment, these systems provide a long-term stable income due to the progressive renewal of coffee trees. A historical analysis of both farms and agroforests plots showed a high adaptability at the plot level. This may allow increased diversification at the farm level by modifications of plant community composition and structure as well as by supporting existing cultural techniques. Our historical analysis approach also revealed a high diversity at the coffee farm level; gradual increases over several generations allows for an integration of production and heritage management. Faced with increasing land pressure, young farmers develop news practices. Some farmers intensify coffee production by reducing shade in their agroforests or by developing new oil palm plantations. On the other hand, some farmers develop new areas into agroforests, by expanding into the surrounding savanna