This document is a summary of minimum shade management practices necessary on a coffee plantation for the SMBC to consider that plantation sustainable. Because coffee is grown under diverse management systems and climatic and ecological conditions, the criteria have been designed to be as general as possible. Our field work has focused on the northern Neotropics and we have limited knowledge or experience with shade systems in the Old World. Therefore, further research will be required to extend some of these bio-physical criteria to Old World systems. In addition, further research is required to develop recommended practices that, above and beyond the minimally acceptable management practices for farmers, would enhance the biodiversity of coffee plantations and maintain socio-cultural benefits of the shade complex.
Rustic coffee can consist of coffee grown under old growth, or more commonly, secondary forest.
Where additional trees have been planted to produce useful products, the system is called Traditional Polyculture. The area of coffee grown under such systems varies from place to place, but, from the standpoint of bird conservation, the maintenance of such systems is highly desirable. Even in rustic or traditional systems, shade trees are generally thinned and trimmed to reduce understory humidity and increase light levels. Vines and unwanted plants on coffee plants, of course, should be removed for production purposes. We further urge that farm inspectors verify that forest converted to coffee production does not have any legal protected status.