Managing insect services and disservices in cocoa agroforestry systems

Abstract

Ecological role of insects in cocoa agroforestry systems is a key component of biodiversity that generally underlines what insects do in cocoa agroforestry systems. Although insects are often under-appreciated and viewed by many cocoa farmers as a nuisance and pests, they provide a diversity of ecosystem services in cocoa agroforestry systems. Farm management practices affect the role and function of these insects, and consequently the ecosystem services and disservices they provide. This paper reviews the importance of insects in cocoa agroforestry systems and examines five major ecosystem service that insects provide. It also highlights farm management practices that affect ecosystem services and disservices provided by insects in cocoa agroforestry systems. The paper further summarizes some of the major and minor insect pest species that can be found in cocoa agroforestry systems, the damages they cause, as well as their management strategies. The conclusion provides insight on how to conserve valuable ecosystem services provided by insects in cocoa agroforestry systems, suggests innovative farm management practices to reduce disservices provided by some insect pest species, and offers recommendations for future research.