· The trust proposes to implement biodiversity-friendly coffee practices

· It will also look into fish conservation and protection of riverine ecosystems

· Rain centre to be set up in Kodagu to demonstrate water management techniques

MADIKERI: The Kodagu Model Forest Trust (KMFT) has submitted a plan to the Government and funding agencies, most of them from overseas, to consider projects proposed by it to improve the environment in Kodagu district with the involvement of people. All projects in the proposal end by 2010.

The trust will not implement the projects but the agency concerned will have to submit a project report to the funding agency and the Government.

It is only after the approval of the Government and the funding agency that such projects can be implemented under the vigilance of the Government.

Landscape management

The proposed activities of the trust, which is linked to the Canada-based international model forest programme, hold immense importance for the district.

The "Integrated landscape management under external market pressure on coffee production in the Western Ghats" project will involve studies on the changes in the forest cover and replacement of native trees with exotic varieties, which has had a major impact on coffee production and the ecosystem. The project is also aimed at biodiversity conservation as well as sustainable development of coffee cultivation.

The trust proposes to investigate the biophysical, economical and institutional ways to promote sustainable and biodiversity-friendly coffee practices in the coffee-growing regions of Central America, East Africa and India.

It also attempts to promote implementation of coffee agro-forestry management to improve farmers' revenues.

Shade tree management

The trust will involve itself in shade tree management in plantations of Tata Coffee Ltd., which is the largest coffee plantation in Asia.

Incidentally, Tata Coffee is a trustee of the KMFT. Conservation and management of pollinators for sustainable coffee and cardamom production through the ecosystem approach has also been proposed by the trust.

Another significant proposal made by the trust is fish conservation and protection of riverine ecosystems.

Illegal fishing such as use of dynamite and toxic chemicals to catch fish has polluted the riverine system in Kodagu. While encroachment of riverbanks and sand mining have resulted in destruction of spawning grounds. The trust intends to look into these issues.

Rain centre

The trust also proposes to establish a rain centre in Kodagu. Given the present rainfall pattern, there has been a water crisis in Kodagu in summer, which is alarming.

The centre is to come up at the Forestry College in Ponnampet, and it will serve as a demonstration unit on various aspects of water management.

Livestock studies

Livestock studies around forest areas in the district, development of the bamboo industry, sustainable utilisation of non-timber forest produce and medicinal plants and studies on the eastern belt forests of Kodagu and relocation of tribal people from forests, which are to be funded by the Union and State governments, are the other proposals.