Insights from Kodagu Model Forest, India

The district of Kodagu in Karnataka state, India forms the Kodagu Model Forest, a member of the Regional Model Forest Network–Asia. The Model Forest is home to various ethnic communities and is supported by a broad network of public and private partners.

The Kodagu Model Forest Trust plays a vital role in sustaining the district as a micro biodiversity and agroforestry hotspot, addressing economic and social needs without compromising environmental and wildlife protection. It promotes holistic forest management with the aim to further both forest conservation and improved quality of life for the people of Kodagu.

The Model Forest’s commitment to sustainable forest management is not without a range of challenges. Both natural disasters and human activities affect the forest landscape and human settlements. Human–wildlife conflict is also an issue and has increased over the past decade.

Kodagu’s journey 

It started in 2000 with a letter from Mukkatira (Taumey) Mahendrappa, a soil scientist based in Canada, who wrote to officials and prominent community members in Kodagu outlining the benefits of Model Forests. He provided evidence from his experience with the Fundy Model Forest and sustainable forest development in Canada.

As a result, the Kodagu Model Forest Trust was registered in 2003, and the Kodagu Model Forest joined the International Model Forest Network in 2005. The Kodagu Model Forest Trust is currently chaired by Cheppudira P Muthanna, a retired Indian Army colonel and former president of the Coorg Wildlife Society.

Although famed for its pristine forests, species richness and agroforestry, Kodagu’s past is marked by deforestation and human–wildlife conflict. Over the years, several Model Forest initiatives have been implemented to improve the relationship between humans and forests and support community livelihoods.

Mitigating human–wildlife conflict 

Karnataka has the largest number of wild Asian elephants in the world. Per the 2023 Indian elephant census, at least 1,000 elephants have been recorded in its forests.

Kodagu is home to three wildlife sanctuaries and the Nagahole National Park, which hosts the largest tiger population in India. Over the years, however, human–wildlife conflict in the district has intensified. The construction of multiple megaprojects, including dams and multi-lane highways, has complicated matters further. In 2014, for example, over 54,000 trees were cut down to pave the way for a high-tension power line that would run to Kerala. Development projects such as these have resulted in large-scale deforestation, habitat destruction and increased human-wildlife conflict.

The Kodagu Model Forest has reached out to the district administration for assistance in resolving human–wildlife conflict. “If you want to stop the conflict, first and foremost, stop destroying the forest with dams,” says Muthanna. He notes that it is crucial to shift from species management to habitat protection.

Agroforestry and other livelihood options 

Apart from its lush forests, Kodagu is home to the Kaveri River, which sustains a population of around 80 million. Here, paddy fields are simultaneously used as crop production sites and local water retainers as they hold large volumes of fresh water in their soil. Standing water in paddy cultivation also recharges the groundwater table.

The district is also known as the ‘coffee capital of India’. According to the Coffee Board of India, Kodagu accounts for over 35 per cent of the country’s total coffee production. Coffee plantations in Kodagu are managed with agroforestry, a land use system that integrates trees into agriculture. Kodagu’s coffee trees are grown under shade trees, allowing a natural ecosystem and diverse species to thrive without undermining coffee production.

The agroforests of Kodagu provide sustainable livelihood for forest-dependent communities while retaining its unique biodiversity and forest health. As the forests are strongholds of coffee production, the people of Kodagu are committed to protecting and managing forested land sustainably.

The Model Forest also supports bamboo cultivation as a means to achieve sustainable livelihoods. As global demand for eco-friendly materials increases, Kodagu’s bamboo harvesting industry is expected to see strong and steady growth.

Active collaboration for sustainable forestry 

Despite environmental issues looming over its forests, Kodagu is standing firm, with support from communities in and outside the district. For Muthanna, the greatest achievement of the Kodagu Model Forest has been a public–private partnership that allows every stakeholder a seat at the table, opening room for discussion on how to build better lives and livelihood.

Through the partnership, Cheppudira Kushalappa, former dean of the College of Forestry Ponnampet, joined Kodagu Model Forest Trust, helping introduce many sustainable initiatives that became the Model Forest’s key activities such as agroforestry, bamboo cultivation and paddy cultivation.

With almost three decades working as an environmentalist and a long record of achievements under his belt, Muthanna feels he is ready to take a backseat and let new generations decide their direction. “The challenges are going to be greater, especially with the changing climate,” he says. “We want more youngsters [to be part of the Kodagu Model Forest Trust] because, as time goes by, we have to make room for younger generations to step in.”

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Project details

The Regional Model Forest Network–Asia is supported by the Global Leadership Program under the Department of Natural Resources, Government of Canada. RECOFTC is the Secretariat of RMFN–Asia.