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Home / Agriculture / Coffee Forests - A Gateway To Wildlifeby Dr. Anand Titus and Geeta N. Pereira Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 The Western Ghats, otherwise referred to as the Sahyadri Hills are formed by the Malabar Plains and the mountains running parallel to the west coast of India .These pristine coffee forests are part and parcel of the massive protected NILGIRI BIOSPHERE( 5,520 square kilometers) reserve, which is India’s first biosphere reserve. The Bandipur National park ( 874 square kilometers) flanked by Nagarahole ( Rajiv Gandhi National park, 643.39 square kilometers ) , Madhumalai wild life sanctuary and Wayanad wildlife sanctuary, act as refuge for residential and endangered species.
Coffee forests provide unrestricted migratory routes for many migratory animals and support their need for forage, food, shade and water during dry spells. This reserve is a key breeding landscape for UMBRELLA species like tigers, elephants, sambars, and other mega fauna distributed across the three states of Karnataka, Kerala and TamilNadu. Umbrella species need large areas to live in. Protection of these species results in the protection of other smaller species both at the macro and micro level.
TABLE-3. FORESTS OF KARNATAKA STATE { Karnataka Forest Department, Government of Karnataka }
For an easy understanding of the Western Ghats, they are categorized into various sections depending on the type of predominant vegetation.
The Western Ghats covers hardly five per cent of India’s geographical area, yet is home to 27 % of all species of higher plants recorded in the Indian Region. This ecologically sensitive zone also houses more than half of the reptiles, one third of the plant species and more than 75 % of the amphibians known in India. About 100 mammal species, including around 5000 elephants, 200 tigers, over 450 bird species, 75 reptiles and 58 amphibians have been recorded in Karnataka.
REVERENCE FOR MOTHER EARTHOur fore fathers had a deep bond with Mother Earth. Their agriculture system gave equal importance to production, profitability, protection and preservation. They understood that forests, rivers, streams and other natural elements like air, vegetation were sacred. Coffee farmers lived a life of harmony with a kind of renewable atmosphere with all the elements of nature.
Coffee farmers throughout the ages have played a vital role in protecting forests and wild life. They have practiced a sustainable system of agriculture that is economically sustainable and ecologically sound. The conservation of many plants and animals is a part of coffee culture, embedded in and perpetuated by customs and religious beliefs. Their production systems encompass the sacred forests, and the scared habitants reaching down to the smallest creature and plant life. The local farmers have been the guardians of nature all these years. COFFEE BOARDThe Coffee Board of India, which comes under the Ministry of Commerce has the world’s oldest research station; Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) solely dedicated for coffee research. This Institute is now renamed as the Indian Institute of Coffee Research (IICR) located at Balehonnur in the District of Chikmagalur, (Karnataka State). The Central coffee research Institute has done ground/path breaking work on various aspects of coffee. The Institute has grouped coffee growing regions into three distinct categories based on the ecology and eco friendliness of the region.
They have developed REGIONAL logos for each and every region, depicting the most abundant natural flora and fauna of that region. COFFEE GROWING REGIONS OF INDIA
This region grows some of the finest high grown Arabic’s, including the exotic Kents. The main intercrops include pepper, orange and Banana. In addition to thick forests, the Anamalay’s have extensive grass lands tapering towards the fertile valleys which provide an ideal breeding ground for spotted leopards.
RHINO: Rhinoceros unicornis Order: Perrisodactyla STATUS: Critically Endangered. The approximate number of the greater one horned rhino stands at 2500. The Indian rhino is one of the largest of all existing rhinoceroses. Many species of rhinos have become extinct and only five species exist today. The white and black rhino are only found in Africa; where as the greater one-horned (India), Javan and Sumatran are found in Asia. All the five species are threatened. Rhinos are odd-toed animals with three toes on each fore foot, supporting their massive weight.
BREEDING: Male rhinos mature in about 10 years and the females a few years earlier. After a gestation period of 16-18 months, one calf is born. At birth the calf weighs around 60 kg. The mother takes care of the calf for three years and is ready to mate again. HORN: Most people confuse the horn of the rhino to be made up of ivory. This is not true. The horns are made up of mass of tangled hair called KERATIN (just like our fingernails) fiber built upon a roughened area of the skull. The horn grows throughout the life time of the animal. Unfortunately, the rhino horn is extensively used in traditional Asian medicine as a potent aphrodisiac. In many south Asian Countries every part of a rhino is used: skin, hooves, horn, flesh, and bone, and blood, urine to cure diseases, ward off evil and bring good luck. In some countries like the Middle East, the horn is used as an as ornamental piece for decorations. |
