Researchers on 28 Peruvian cacao farms found birds and bats nearly doubled harvests by pest control

Nature has mysterious ways of sustaining itself without any human interference. Due to our increasing demand, we have evolved mechanisms such as fertilisers, pesticides and even modifications in seeds to improve yields and get a better harvest. However, time and again, we find that nature also keeps evolving as per its requirements, which can make the lives of farmers who depend on it easier. In Peru's Amazon region, researchers have found that wildlife on farms, such as bats and birds, could be worth thousands of dollars to cacao growers.A study of 28 organic cacao agroforests in the northern Peruvian Amazon found that birds and bats help control crop-damaging pests, contributing to almost twice the cacao yield in landscapes rich in trees. The researchers estimated that this natural pest-control service could add around US$1,640 per hectare annually in production value. Research titled ‘Integrating local and landscape management promotes biodiversity, multifunctionality and yields in tropical agroforests’ challenges the assumption that farmers must choose between protecting wildlife and producing more crops.Nature's pest-control squadCacao, the tropical tree whose seeds eventually become chocolate, often suffers damage from various pests. Insects and other small arthropods can damage its flowers and pods, threatening the harvest before the beans ever reach a chocolate maker.Enter the birds and bats.