Coffee and Landscape Change in the Colombian Countryside 1970-2002

This dissertation contributes to this knowledge gap by analyzing the landscape impacts of commercial intensification of coffee agriculture in Colombia between 1970 and 2002. The results indicate there are widespread landscape transformations associated with agricultural intensification. For this case study, the total area planted in coffee decreased by more than 18% between 1970 and 2002. At the same time, total coffee production has increased about 50%. These two conditions are clear signs of agricultural intensification. The major landscape changes during the same period have been a sharp decrease in the area in pasture, and an increase in the area planted in other crops (e.g., fruit orchards, vegetables, cassava, plantains, and pineapple among others) . Therefore, the landscape is becoming more agriculturally diverse. There is evidence for both simultaneous intensification, and intensification/disintensification of crops.