Ecotones as refuges

In a recent Opinion piece in TREE entitled 'Agroforestry: a refuge for tropical biodiversity?', Bhagwat from the Oxford University Centre for the Environment and colleagues combine two ideas that have appeared on this blog: ecotones and refuges. They discuss the value of unprotected areas, specifically agroforestry systems- where trees and shrubs are grown in combination with crops- to the conservation of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes. Farms with trees can provide wildlife habitat outside of formally protected areas as well as connect reserves. As discussed in an earlier post, farms that attract wildlife could be viewed as having potential for agro-tourism and, if converting to agro-forestry would also mean decreasing crop losses, then such a scheme could be advantageous to farmers. What we need to learn is if the costs to farmers of having e.g. howling monkeys in their coffee plantations do not outweigh the benefits accrued from agroforestry, agrotourism and conservation. Ideas on how to evaluate such situations are needed, so post one here if you have one!