Riesgo de Disminuir la Sustentabilidad por Cambio de Cultivos de Café en la Región de Coatepec, Veracruz

The Coatepec region in Veracruz has historically stood out for its shade-grown coffee agroecosystems, which provide valuable environmental services and territorial sustainability. However, in recent decades, price fluctuations and various socioeconomic factors have driven the conversion of coffee plantations toward monocultures or higher-impact land uses. This study aims to analyze the risks and impacts on environmental, economic, and social sustainability derived from the replacement of traditional coffee cultivation in the region. The theoretical and empirical foundation of the research is rooted in the work of Elinor Ostrom (1990), whose perspective argues that the conservation of natural resources depends on the active participation of organized communities in rule-making and environmental monitoring. This principle serves as a pillar of modern environmental governance, emphasizing that caring for ecosystems is a joint task between citizens and the government. Methodologically, the analysis is supported by a critical review of scientific literature and fieldwork, which included a multi-temporal land-use analysis and surveys of producers. The results indicate that crop conversion leads to a drastic decrease in water retention, negatively affects soil fertility and biodiversity, and increases the economic vulnerability of producers. It is concluded that the loss of shade coffee cover seriously compromises regional sustainability, making the urgent implementation of public policies for agroecological incentives and payment schemes for environmental services necessary.