Locals fear that the sudden influx of tourists in ecologically fragile areas could cause irreversible damage to forests, water sources, and wildlife habitats.
Social media posts are promoting commercial mass trekking in sensitive areas around Nelji, Perur, and the neighbouring regions. | Photo Credit: File photo
Residents and environmentalists across the Western Ghats, particularly in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts, have raised concerns over the growing trend of private groups and tour operators promoting hidden and remote natural spots for commercial trekking and adventure activities.
Locals fear that the sudden influx of tourists in ecologically fragile areas could cause irreversible damage to forests, water sources, and wildlife habitats.
Residents allege that several travel agents and private groups, particularly from Bengaluru and Mysuru, are identifying lesser-known hills, waterfalls, and other natural locations and promoting them on social media. Treks are subsequently being organised to these spots without permission from the Forest Department.
The increased footfall has resulted in tourists leaving behind plastic waste and other garbage, they alleged.
In Kodagu, the Forest Department recently intensified action against unauthorised commercial trekking in sensitive forest areas and warned travel agents and tour operators against promoting illegal trekking routes.
The warning followed the circulation of social media videos showing trekking activities to mountains, waterfalls, and areas where Strobilanthes kunthiana, popularly known as Neelakurinji, an endemic shrub seen in the Western Ghats, is in bloom at Perur village near Napoklu. The department said that social media posts are being used to promote commercial mass trekking in sensitive areas around Nelji, Perur, and the neighbouring regions.
“Over the past few days, we have been seeing several illegal tour operators arranging treks and taking tourists to hidden spots in the hills without permission. The main concern is that several lesser-known places inside and around forest areas are now being exposed to tourists for commercial purposes,” Thimmaiah K.B., resident of Nelji, told The Hindu.
He said that the area has several small waterfalls and other natural spots that are increasingly being accessed by tourists. Many of these locations are located in or close to sensitive forest areas and are not equipped to handle large numbers of visitors.
“With the Neelakurunji in bloom, more people are coming here. If the visitors are allowed to enter these places without restrictions, they could damage the plants and other vegetation. Such activities can also disturb wildlife and increase the possibility of human-wildlife conflict. We are worried that continued unregulated tourism will severely affect the fragile ecosystem,” he said.
Another resident, Biddappa of Marandoda in Madikeri taluk, said his village was facing a similar problem at a place locally known as Baliyatre, where a small waterfall is located on a hill.
He said that Baliyatre was never intended to be a tourist destination and, more importantly, the water source is vital for the villagers. “The water from this area is an important drinking water source for the people of Marandoda. It is a place that needs to be protected and not converted into a tourist spot,” Mr. Biddappa told The Hindu.
“People are promoting the location on social media, making reels, bringing tourists and organising treks for commercial purposes. Visitors have already started leaving garbage and polluting the area, putting our drinking-water source and the surrounding forest at risk,” he added.
Chikkamagaluru sees similar trend
A similar trend has emerged in Chikkamagaluru, where environmentalists have urged the district administration and the Forest Department to prohibit private groups from conducting adventure and sports activities in forest areas without permission.
Recently, private groups organised off-road activities in parts of Kalasa and Koppa. Following objections from local groups, the Forest Department intervened and stopped the activity in Kalasa. However, environmentalists said similar activities continued in the Koppa region.
Activist Nagaraj Koove said that environmentalists had studied the impact of such activities on the fragile Malnad ecosystem. “The impact was huge and such activities could cause serious damage. In the name of sports activities or exploring the Malnad region, private organisations are conducting such events with profit as the primary objective. They offer participants a sense of adventure and thrill, but the environmental cost is borne by the forests and local communities,” he told The Hindu.
“Forest areas are not playgrounds for private commercial events. Such activities, particularly those involving vehicles and large groups, should be stopped unless they are properly regulated and permitted by the authorities,” he added.
The risks were highlighted recently when a group of tourists allegedly drove a vehicle to the edge of a nearly 3,000-ft.-deep gorge at the Rani Jhari viewpoint in Mudigere taluk. The visitors were reportedly at the spot to shoot videos/reels for social media. Kalasa Range forest officials seized the vehicle and registered a case against the group.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who was in Kodagu on August 28 for a departmental meeting, said that he had received complaints from residents regarding unauthorised trekking and tourist activities in forest areas and had instructed officials to take action against those conducting trekking activities illegally in forest areas.
“Forest areas cannot be opened up for commercial activities merely because some locations become popular on social media. If such activities are allowed unchecked, they can disturb wildlife and affect the ecological balance. Officials have been directed to identify such activities and take action against tour operators and private groups violating the rules,” he added.
(With inputs from Sathish G.T.)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Darshan Devaiah B.P / September 01st, 2026
Molecular biologist Sujata Goel on the importance of “weeds”, modern approaches in science communication & India’s organic farming policies.
Nearly 30 years ago, molecular biologists Sujata Goel and her partner Anurag left Delhi to build a life closer to nature in Karnataka’s Kodagu district. Over the years, they began working closely with local farmers to understand how agroecological plantations could be developed at scale, combining their expertise in academic biology with generations of local ecological knowledge to co-create natural solutions for coffee and spice plantations. Communication techniques that closed language and knowledge gaps were essential in this confluence of modern scientific understanding with centuries-old local wisdom.
The couple has been actively researching natural alternatives to chemical pesticides, starting with a makeshift laboratory on a wooden table on their 25-acre ecologically sustaining plantation to test how certain plant species that are considered “weeds” have properties to turn away pests and provide other benefits to cultivated plants. Since then, Sujata has taken their research to public platforms and official channels to advocate for bans on use of agri chemicals in Coorg’s coffee and spice plantations. Coorg is home to Talakaveri, the source of River Kaveri — the lifeline of multiple South Indian states. The chemicals sold to and used by planters, seep into the soil and contaminate this vital waterbody.
Today, Sujata works with a small team of farmers, naturalists and conservationists to bring awareness about the lethal impacts of weedicides that has gradually crept into the agricultural practices in and around plantations in this area.
She has also taken these ideas to the international stage through the Organic Farming Association of India, serving as its president and helping organise a global symposium in 2017. In the conversation with Down To Earth, she discusses the methods and importance of such dialogue, the evolving approaches of communicating science with local communities and what she has learnt about organic farming in India as a practitioner.
Preetha Banerjee: How has science communication changed over the years and what channels and techniques do you use to raise awareness among local farmers? What has been the impact of the Internet?
Sujata Goel: Most people across villages including farmers use the internet comprehensively. Several village Panchayats, Planters and Farmers have created Whatsapp groups to exchange and share information regarding everything related to cultivation, from weather forecasts to agricultural practices, government schemes and subsidies available, and other related matters. We are using such platforms in collaborations with scientists to spread awareness about the carcinogenic and lethal effects of many of the agrichemicals which are rampantly being used in the fields now. It is important to remember that these lands constitute a catchment area being the primary recipients of the South-west monsoons, providing water for much of peninsular India. Spraying pesticides and weedicides around paddy fields have contaminated wetlands, which is extremely dangerous since these wetlands are the life source of all flowing water. These wetlands are also precious because they recharge ground water and must be protected from such thoughtless destruction at all costs.
PB: Over three decades of working with farmers, how have you seen science communication evolve?
SG: Whatsapp groups and Instagram seem to be the most accessible to farmers. Since multiple language use is now possible, these are popular, especially in rural areas. Several workshops are also held remotely, and farmers are able to attend them from their own places of residence and work. This helps cut costs of holding such study programs and enables organisations such as Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI) to invite scientists to such platforms without disrupting their work schedules.
PB: Modern agricultural science promotes a negative association with “weeds”. Is there another way to look at weeds? What have you learnt from traditional wisdom and your own research?
SG: Words like “pest” and “weed” have evolved through western agricultural practices. They tend to designate some species desirable and others not. Many native plants which we call weeds were consumed as food not long ago and continue to do so. Many species which we eliminate under the garb of “weeds” play an essential role not only in the overall ecosystem, but also in producing our own food. They not only create habitats for local biodiversity but also offer pollinators necessary grounds for foraging and survival. Rethinking our language biases would enable us to look more holistically at the philosophy behind our practices.
This brings us to the issue of weedicides, which have slowly infiltrated Kodagu’s coffee plantations in the past ten years. We now notice deformities and dead bodies of animals in the once-lively streams that are the arteries of this landscape. The poisoning of freshwater species is just an indicator of the impact these chemicals have on human health.
This year, in February 2026, the multinational company, Bayers, announced that it will pay $7.25 billion to settle thousands of US lawsuits alleging that its Roundup weedkiller has caused a vast number of individual cases of cancer. That these family of carcinogenic agri-chemicals were lethal to all life forms was substantiated by rigorous scientific research decades ago and has been available in the public domain, and yet their marketing continues unabated. Are these the substances which international companies promote and enforce on the planet and escape all forms of control? Who becomes accountable for such acts of deliberate genocide?
PB: Why is it important to think about biodiversity as an entire ecosystem rather than as individual species? What does this mean for agricultural productivity?
SG: Sustenance of the ecology of a farm depends upon the richness of its biological diversity. Plants and insects, fungi and soil microorganisms have all co-evolved for millions of years. Good farming practices aim to understand the importance of biodiversity and try to mimic nature by providing niches for diverse plants, animals, insects, bacteria and fungi. The ‘ecosystem services’ provided by this biodiversity are invaluable, not just for farmers, but for all of life surrounding us. These range from encouraging populations of pollinators, soil recharge and nutrient cycling, disease regulation, water harnessing, and carbon sequestration among others.
On organic farms such as ours that have no trace of chemicals around, parasitic and predatory insects colonise native plant species and play significant roles in maintaining disease-free crops. Integration of fallow areas, leaving riparian stretches rich with local weeds, and generous mulching has allowed a rich buildup of biodiversity in the fields. As a result, we now have excellent populations of spiders, wasps, dragonflies, frogs, lizards, snakes and a wide range of birds, all of which contribute towards building up of a diverse and healthy agri-ecosystem.
Birds are amazing for their ability feed on insects and caterpillars; spiders are indiscriminate trappers of a whole range of insects. Wasps lay their eggs on larvae, which hatch and being carnivorous, start feeding on the grubs which would otherwise damage the crops. Bats, frogs, skinks, lizards, shrews, mantids, are insect feeders and form an intricate link in the food web of the forest ecosystem.
Beneficial microorganisms contribute to a rise in detritus activity of the soil, increased nitrogen fixation, and increase in nutrient cycles. Areas where grasslands are encouraged become sponges for harnessing rainwater to replenish water tables and aquifers. It is these who are the true regenerators of our soils and agri-ecosystems.
PB: How has India’s approach to organic farming changed over the past three decades?
SG: Across our agricultural landscapes, farmers are beginning to feel the “bite” of 60 years of aftermath of the green revolution. Widespread losses due to climate extremes being experienced in different parts of the world now are adding to the need to desperately regenerate degraded lands. This is possible only through farming practices which totally exclude use of agri-chemicals, and at the same time, enabling viable practices to revive our soils.
There is no half measure. The governing bodies of our country must make up their minds that when they announce policies and projects to support organic farming, whether that is their true intent and how such projects can be implemented in light of subsidies and other supportive mechanisms offered for purchases of the very agri-chemicals which are responsible for the damage. Through field-based education and changes in policies to ensure that farmers are economically protected, it is possible to scale up on organic practices to feed our populations. This has been amply demonstrated by the truly progressive farmers across the world.
source: http://www.downtoearth.org.in / Down To Earth / Home> Environment / by Preetha Banerjee / August 22nd, 2026
In a press release, the department said it had noticed the promotion of such activities through social media.
The department warned that unauthorised entry into adjoining forest areas beyond the boundaries of private land constitutes a punishable forest offence under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963. | Photo Credit: File photo
The Forest Department has cautioned the public against organising commercial mass trekking and tourism activities in Nelji, Peruru and surrounding areas, which are known for their rich floral wealth, including Strobilanthes species, and natural water sources.
In a press release, the department said it had noticed the promotion of such activities through social media. The areas are located close to forest regions and form part of a sensitive wildlife habitat frequented by wild elephants.
The department warned that unauthorised entry into adjoining forest areas beyond the boundaries of private land constitutes a punishable forest offence under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963.
It also prohibited activities that could damage the sensitive shola-grassland ecosystem, including plucking, trampling or destroying native vegetation. Unauthorised drone flights over forest areas are also prohibited under the applicable forest and wildlife protection laws, the release added.
The department said uncontrolled tourism activities in sensitive zones frequented by elephants could pose a serious threat to human life. In the event of wildlife conflict, injury, loss of life or any other untoward incident during such tourism activities, the organisers and agencies concerned would be held directly responsible under applicable civil and criminal laws, the department said.
Any violations would be reported to the competent district authorities for further appropriate administrative action, the Range Forest Officer said, in the release.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 25th, 2026
Sowing in Mysuru district | Photo Credit: File photo
A sharp deficit in pre-monsoon rainfall across southern Karnataka has raised concerns ahead of the onset of the southwest monsoon, with key districts in the Mysuru region, particularly Kodagu and Mysuru, recording significant shortfalls that could affect preparation for kharif sowing.
Data released by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) as of May 27 shows that South Interior Karnataka received 106 mm of rainfall against the normal 125 mm during the pre-monsoon period from March 1 to May 27, registering a deficit of 16 per cent.
Among the districts in the Mysuru region, the data said, Kodagu recorded the steepest decline, receiving only 106 mm rainfall against the normal 220 mm – a deficit of 52 per cent. Mysuru followed with 89 mm against the normal 184 mm, recording a 51 per cent shortage. Mandya received 96 mm against the normal 146 mm, registering a shortfall of 34 per cent, while Chamarajanagar received 140 mm against the expected 181 mm, reflecting a 22 per cent deficit.
The shortfall was more noticeable in April. Mysuru district received only 10 mm rainfall against the normal 66 mm, recording an 85 per cent deficit. Kodagu registered a 76 per cent shortfall, followed by Chamarajanagar at 75 per cent and Mandya at 59 per cent.
Although rainfall activity improved marginally in May, it remained insufficient to offset the earlier deficit. Between May 1 and 27, Mysuru received 65 mm rainfall against the normal 103 mm, registering a 37 per cent shortfall, while Kodagu received 64 mm against 114 mm, a deficit of 44 per cent. Mandya and Chamarajanagar fared relatively better, receiving 62 mm and 105 mm respectively.
The data also showed significant rainfall deficits in Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home > News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / May 27th, 2026
The tragedy raises urgent questions about the continued use of captive elephants for tourism, festivals, and processions in the name of tradition, even as shrinking habitats, broken elephant corridors, and rising human interference intensify conflict between humans and wildlife.
This week’s tragedy at Dubare elephant camp in Kodagu district, deep inside Karnataka’s Western Ghats, questions the decision of the authorities to permit tourists to bathe captive elephants in the flowing waters of the Cauvery River. This camp is located deep within forests dominated by the movement of wild elephants. All captive elephants in this camp were not born in captivity; many were captured from the wild and later tamed in such camps. It is not fair to conclude that tamed elephants have shed all their wild characteristics and fully obey the command and control of their masters – mahouts and kavadis. There have been instances in the past where elephants have killed their masters – mahouts and kavadis. There have also been instances where elephants did not obey the commands of the mahout and ran amok, inflicting casualties and death among crowds.
Captive elephants are often subjected to torture by mahouts using iron ankushes, which can cause bleeding and septicaemia. The footpads of elephants are frequently injured from walking on paved roads. Though camps have treatment facilities under the supervision of veterinary doctors, bleeding from earlobes and footpads is often neglected, and the elephants continue to suffer.
Let me examine in this piece how far we are justified in taking elephants for processions during special occasions and marriages where large crowds gather, and how far we are justified in continuing age-old traditions where tourists are permitted to pour water and rub the elephants’ bodies while standing beside them. On several occasions, I have personally failed to convince the Karnataka government not to use captive elephants during Mysuru Dussehra. The argument advanced was: why discontinue traditions?
Captive elephants were extensively used in dragging timber logs across hilly terrain in forestry operations in the past. The Forest Department maintained elephant camps for such operations. However, maintaining these camps was always costly, which restricted their expansion. As forestry operations have now been scaled down and tree felling in hilly terrains prohibited in the interest of conservation, these camps have largely lost their relevance.
Now, bureaucrats and politicians see these camps as permanent centres for training wild elephants that stray out of forests, damage crops and property, and threaten human lives. Earlier, the Karnataka Forest Department carried out khedda operations to capture only a few elephants needed for logging operations. However, with the advent of safer tranquillising techniques, more and more wild elephants are being captured. The department often comes under public pressure to capture elephants straying into villages. The argument advanced is that the elephant population in the wild is increasing due to conservation, and the excess population must therefore be brought into captivity. Wild elephants involved in conflicts, when translocated several hundred kilometres away into another elephant habitat, have often returned to their original homes within weeks, strengthening the argument for bringing such elephants into captivity.
In an era when elephant habitats are continuously fragmenting and shrinking owing to the expansion and widening of linear infrastructure, diversion of forests for mining, industries and development projects, and unauthorised encroachment on forest land, wild animals — especially elephants — are left with little option but to migrate in search of food, shelter, and water, thereby straying into human settlements.
The spread of invasive species and forest fires has also degraded elephant habitats. Palatable plant species and bamboo forests have suffered extensive damage, forcing elephants to move out of forests regularly. Elephant corridors that once provided migratory routes have been occupied by humans. Human settlements and cultivation inside forest pockets have expanded, to the detriment of conservation.
Captive elephant camps like Dubare are themselves islands of human activity within forests. As part of their daily routine, camp elephants are released into forests during the daytime, where they interact with wild elephants. Fights between captive and wild elephants are reported regularly. There have even been instances where captive elephants were killed by wild tuskers. Aggression is a natural part of elephant behaviour and cannot always be controlled by a mahout’s ankush. Sometimes, the animals can surprise us.
About a decade ago in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, an elephant in a procession kicked its mahout in full public view. The kick was mild and the mahout survived the scare. Feeling insulted, the mahout attempted to attack the elephant with an ankush. The elephant became even angrier and kicked him with such force that he fell nearly 20 feet away and died. Elephants killing their mahouts is not uncommon, and such incidents have been reported from across the country.
Within a herd, stronger elephants are also known to target weaker members. This is what happened at Dubare earlier this week. A tusker attacked a makhna (another male elephant without tusks) while tourists were permitted to bathe the herd. The hostility had likely built up over time, and on that fateful day, the tusker chose to attack the makhna in full view of tourists. The makhna collapsed onto a female tourist bathing it, crushing her to death. The tusker continued attacking the makhna until the mahout managed to calm it down. Despite the best treatment provided at the camp, the makhna died the following day.
Dubare camp also has tourist lodges run by the state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR). One of the activities offered to tourists is bathing the camp elephants, while another is jeep safaris through nearby forests to view wild animals. It has also been found that the entire camp and JLR premises lie within a corridor historically used by wild elephants. Blocking this corridor has disrupted elephant movement and intensified human-elephant conflict.
There are other forest pockets in Kodagu that have been granted for coffee estates. These estates too obstruct elephant corridors. More than 10,000 acres of coffee estate owned by Tata lie within this corridor. The entire estate is fenced, diverting elephants into human settlements and aggravating conflict. Sometimes elephants break through the fencing and enter the estates, threatening workers’ lives. Even the narrow roads inside coffee estates are covered by drooping coffee branches on both sides, limiting visibility. Estate management must ensure better visibility and safer movement.
This is a vicious cycle. As wild elephant movement is obstructed, incidents of conflict increase, and every human death places additional pressure on the Forest Department to capture the elephants involved and bring them into captivity. The continued operation of such elephant camps and JLR facilities is not in the interest of conservation.
Such elephant camps should be downsized in a phased manner, and corridors must be restored by removing fencing in Tata Coffee estates and around JLR properties. Tourists should not be allowed near camp elephants, and under no circumstances should close interactions be permitted. Tourist viewing areas should instead be cordoned off, allowing visitors only to observe elephants bathing in the river from a safe distance.
Dubare camp also has tourist lodges run by the state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR). One of the activities offered to tourists is bathing the camp elephants, while another is jeep safaris through nearby forests to view wild animals. It has also been found that the entire camp and JLR premises lie within a corridor historically used by wild elephants.
The writer is a retired Head of Forest Force, Karnataka, and teaches Economics at the Karnataka Forest Academy; Views presented are personal.
source: http://www.dailypioneer.com / The Pioneer / Home / by B K Singh / May 28th,2026
A new climate analysis finds India’s coffee farms absorbed 30 extra days of harmful heat annually because of carbon pollution. Researchers are racing to find alternatives before Arabica and Robusta run out of room.
A worker picks ripe coffee cherries at Kelachandra Coffee Estate, in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, on January 10, 2026. | Photo Credit: Laxmi Devi Aere/PTI
More than two billion cups of coffee are consumed every day, and for several years now, surging prices and falling production have marked the global coffee trade. Farmers in the world’s top five coffee-producing countries have faced mounting losses because of a warming planet, and India’s coffee sector is not immune. A new analysis by Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators who research the changing climate, finds that 25 coffee-growing countries together accounting for about 97 per cent of global production all experienced more coffee-harming heat over the past five years.
Kristina Dahl, Climate Central’s Vice President for Science, explained to Frontline in an email interview why coffee was chosen as the subject. “Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world and a daily staple for billions of people,” she said. “It also provides a very direct and tangible link between climate change and everyday life. Any climate-driven disruption to coffee production has global ripple effects—from farmers in the ‘bean belt’ to consumers worldwide.”
Coffee plants are highly sensitive to temperature. When maximum temperatures regularly exceed 30°C, the quality and quantity of bean harvests decline. Reduced harvests and lower-quality beans tighten global supplies, contributing to price volatility—as seen in December 2024 and again in February 2025, when global coffee prices reached record highs, Dahl said. For farmers, many of them smallholders, lower yields, crop losses, and the cost of adapting to new conditions strain already thin profit margins.
The analysis, which examined daily temperatures between 2021 and 2025 across 25 major producing countries, is the first to directly attribute the increase in coffee-harming heat days—defined as days when maximum temperatures exceeded 30°C—to climate change using attribution science, she said. Climate Central drew on its Climate Shift Index, which compares observed temperatures to modelled estimates of temperatures in a hypothetical world without carbon pollution. Last year, the organisation conducted a similar attribution analysis on cocoa, another climate-sensitive crop.
Heat is already impacting harvests
The top five coffee-growing countries—Brazil (roughly 37 per cent of global production), Vietnam (17 per cent), Colombia (8 per cent), and Ethiopia and Indonesia (6 per cent each)—together are responsible for 75 per cent of world’s supply, experienced an average of 57 extra coffee-harming heat days per year because of climate change. Brazil averaged 70 additional harmful heat days annually; Indonesia 73; Vietnam 59; Colombia 48; and Ethiopia 34.
The situation is particularly acute in Asia, Dahl pointed out. Thailand recorded an average of about 75 additional harmful heat days a year. India, which contributes approximately 3.5 per cent of global coffee production, experienced an average of 118 coffee-harming heat days per year between 2021 and 2025, of which 30 were attributable to climate change. In a world without carbon pollution, India would have had roughly 88 such days instead of 118. Kerala recorded 65 additional heat days linked to climate change annually; Tamil Nadu 43; and Karnataka, India’s largest coffee-producing State, 32.
These impacts are not theoretical. “In practical terms, rising heat is already affecting harvests in major coffee-producing countries, threatening both quantity and quality,” Dahl said. She pointed out that while earlier studies had linked rising temperatures, drought, and shifting rainfall to reduced yields and shrinking suitable growing areas, the Climate Central analysis adds a new dimension: it quantifies precisely how many additional harmful heat days can be attributed to carbon pollution.
Beyond heat, the analysis notes that climate impacts are worse for Arabica plants, which account for about 60–70 per cent of global supply, since they are more sensitive than Robusta varieties to temperatures above 30°C. Pests and diseases—coffee leaf rust and the coffee berry borer in particular—also intensify with climate change. Without significant reductions in carbon emissions, suitable land for coffee farming could decline by up to 50 per cent by 2050, according to earlier research cited by Dahl. “Adaptation and resilience can only take farmers so far,” she said.
Wild species and the search for alternatives
India is the world’s fifth-largest Robusta producer, and about 80 per cent of its coffee is grown by smallholders, according to World Coffee Research. The country’s coffee exports earned approximately $1.28 billion in fiscal year 2023–24, making it a significant agricultural earner.
Akshay Dashrath, co-founder of the South India Coffee Company (SICC), which he set up in 2017 with his wife Komal Sable as a sourcing and logistics platform, has been researching Excelsa (Coffea dewevrei) since 2019. He found a market initially difficult to reach, but publications by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on Excelsa and related species accelerated demand. He has been working with Kew for three to four years on climate-resilient coffee species, running trials of Excelsa, Stenophylla, and four coffee species native to India—Coffea bengalensis (found from Chikmagalur to Thailand), Coffea travancorensis, neobridsoniae, and wightiana—on his family’s Mooleh Manay Estate in North Coorg, Karnataka. For the past two years, he has also been breeding Excelsa for better cup quality and commercial viability.
“A hotter environment means coffee is under stress: production per plant reduces, cup quality drops, and the plant weakens. It is happening in specific blocks—those with less shade are more susceptible to disease, and once the plant is weak, it becomes prone to fungal infection,” Dashrath said. He described a severe leaf rust outbreak on his farm: the heavily shaded plants survived, but those under direct sunlight lost their foliage.
Rising heat is not the only problem. He pointed out that for Robusta—and for Arabica—dry air matters as much as temperature. “Heat with dry air is more damaging to certain species,” he said. Excelsa, native to Central Africa, tolerates heat, dry air, and drier soils better than Arabica or Robusta because its root system goes considerably deeper, giving it access to soil moisture that shallower-rooted varieties cannot reach. Dashrath puts Excelsa’s root depth at 4.5 to possibly 7–8 feet, compared with Robusta at 2.5 feet and pure Arabica at around 3 feet.
Coffee plants are highly sensitive to temperature. When maximum temperatures regularly exceed 30°C, the quality and quantity of bean harvests decline. | Photo Credit: Prakash Hassan
Indian coffee has been grown under shade since the 1850s, making canopy management central to the crop’s culture. However, Dashrath notes that many growing belts are now thinning their canopy to increase yields by admitting more sunlight, and supplementing Robusta with external irrigation—a trend that could leave farms more exposed to heat and moisture stress.
India also carries a legacy of genetic limitations. “Historically, we had access to diverse germplasm, including hybrids of Arabica, Liberica, and Excelsa,” Dashrath said. “But in the 1940s, the research focus shifted towards developing Arabica–Robusta hybrids for leaf rust tolerance.” The result is that the country’s commercial varieties remain concentrated in two species highly sensitive to warming. The Central Coffee Research Institute, founded in 1925, is conducting research on climate-resilient coffee, though its director did not respond to a request for comment.
The case for Excelsa as a climate buffer became clearer to Dashrath in July 2024, when 33 inches of rain fell on his farm in a single month—far more than the typical annual average of 58 inches. Arabica and Robusta could not withstand the waterlogging, but Excelsa’s deeper root system held. “When we talk of climate-resilient coffee, we need species that can handle not only heat but also climate variability,” he said.
Stenophylla (Coffea stenophylla), a wild species from West Africa, offers another avenue. Rediscovered in Sierra Leone in 2018 after not being seen in the wild since 1954, Stenophylla has been found to tolerate temperatures significantly higher than Arabica while producing a comparable flavour profile, according to research published in Nature Plants in 2021 by scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the University of Greenwich, CIRAD, and researchers in Sierra Leone. It is currently on the IUCN Red List as “Vulnerable.”
Excelsa currently accounts for about 1 per cent of the global coffee market and is grown commercially in small quantities in Chikmagalur and Coorg. SICC received a grant from Coffee Circle last year to grow Excelsa on trial plots across six different sites; the data from those trials has been shared with Kew, which is mapping climate conditions from Uganda to India and parts of South-East Asia. The trials are informing a broader picture of which plant material performs under changing conditions.
Still, Dashrath is candid about the timeline. Arabica has been bred for around 600 years; Robusta for 150. Excelsa is a wild species with considerable variation from plant to plant, and no consistency in yields. Getting it to a standard where it can compete in commodity markets is a 20–25-year project, he said. “The market is there, but it needs more breeding, standardised seeds, and testing before it can be deployed at scale. Currently it is a niche product, priced rather high.”
There are over 120 recognised coffee species, according to Kew researchers, though most are either inedible or commercially unviable. Coffea racemosa, from Mozambique, has also attracted attention for its claimed heat tolerance, though published data on its upper temperature threshold remain limited. Dashrath is blunt about the bottom line: “If the world gets warmer, coffee-growing areas may shift, or alternatives like Excelsa may need to move to centre stage. To sustain coffee, we need to start looking outside the realm of Arabica and Robusta.”
Concerns about Arabica’s future are felt most acutely in Ethiopia, the crop’s birthplace. Dejene Dadi, General Manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperatives Union (OCFCU), one of Ethiopia’s largest smallholder coffee cooperatives and exporters, put the stakes plainly: “Coffee farmers in Ethiopia are already seeing the impact of extreme heat. Ethiopian Arabica is particularly sensitive to direct sunlight. Without sufficient shade, coffee trees produce fewer beans and become more vulnerable to disease.” He called for governments to act on climate change and invest in smallholder organisations capable of scaling up adaptation. “Coffee farming is part of our cultural heritage, and coffee trees are symbols of continuity and pride,” he added. “Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and Ethiopian coffee farmers are key to safeguarding its future.”
Research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew—through a project focused on Excelsa and Liberica coffee and related species, with field and farm trials across Africa and Asia—offers some grounds for cautious optimism. The work is designed to identify which species combinations can sustain coffee cultivation in warming conditions and provide farmers with alternatives to the two varieties that currently dominate.
For India’s approximately 3.6 lakh coffee farmers, most of them dependent on Robusta for their livelihoods, and for the country’s coffee export sector—worth close to $1.3 billion in FY2023–24 and significantly more since—the challenge from climate change is not distant. It is measured, now, in 30 extra days of harmful heat each year, and rising.
Meena Menon is a freelance journalist and visiting postdoctoral fellow at Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute, University of Leeds.
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Summary
A Climate Central analysis reveals that 25 major coffee-producing countries, including India, are experiencing increased ‘coffee-harming heat’ due to climate change, impacting global production and prices. India faces an average of 118 such days annually, with 30 directly attributable to climate change. This heat stress reduces yields and quality, particularly for sensitive Arabica plants. Researchers are exploring climate-resilient coffee species like Excelsa and Stenophylla, which exhibit better tolerance to heat and variable weather conditions. While these alternatives offer hope, their widespread commercial adoption requires significant research and development, highlighting the urgent need for climate action and adaptation strategies to safeguard the future of coffee.
Key Questions & Insights(AIⓘ)
What is the primary finding of Climate Central’s analysis regarding global coffee production?
Why was coffee chosen as the subject for Climate Central’s analysis?
How does high temperature affect coffee plants and global coffee prices?
What is ‘coffee-harming heat’ as defined by Climate Central?
How many additional coffee-harming heat days did India experience annually due to climate change between 2021 and 2025?
Which Indian states were most affected by climate change-linked heat days for coffee production?
Why are Arabica plants more vulnerable to climate change than Robusta varieties?
What is the potential impact of climate change on suitable land for coffee farming by 2050?
What is the significance of Excelsa coffee in the context of climate change?
What is the current status of Excelsa in the global coffee market?
What is Stenophylla and why is it considered a promising alternative coffee species?
What is the main challenge for India’s coffee sector due to climate change?
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source: http://www.frontline.thehindu.com / Frontline / Home> India> Environment> Digital Exclusive / by Meena Menon / February 25th, 2026
Dhanyata M Poovaiah writes about Kodagu’s paddy varieties, festivals linked to the agrarian calendar and traditional rice dishes.
Vasudha and Krishna (in purple) varieties of paddy being cultivated near Ponnampet in Kodagu. Photo by Ravi Shankar
Kodagu today is synonymous with its lush, aromatic coffee plantations. But long before coffee arrived with the British, the region’s identity was rooted in paddy cultivation.
Kodagu transitioned from paddy to coffee only in the late 20th century, as coffee plantations turned to be more profitable and less labour-intensive. In recent years, real estate development has resulted in the conversion of paddy fields into non-agricultural land.
Yet, rice continues to be the staple diet in Kodagu and remains an important crop, cultivated in around 14,000 hectares in the district. Consequently, the cultural life of the region is intertwined with the various phases of paddy cultivation.
The Kodava New Year, Edmyar Ondh, celebrated in Mid-April, marks the beginning of the paddy cycle. The year is ushered in with ploughing of the paddy fields. During Kodava Kakkada, the peak monsoon month from mid-July to mid-August, paddy saplings are transplanted. On the 18th day of Kakkada, known as Kakkada Padhinett, maddh payasa, a special dessert is prepared from a plant locally called maddh thoppu (medicinal plant). This plant (Justicia wynaadensis) is known to have several medicinal properties which helps boost immunity.
The Kailpodh festival, celebrated on September 3 every year, marks the completion of transplantation and offers a period to relax after the hard labour.
Puthari, celebrated in the Birchiyar month between November and December, marks the harvest of paddy.
“Since Kodagu is blessed with abundant rainfall, paddy cultivation is entirely rainfed and cultivated as a single-season Kharif crop in the lowlands,” says Dr Prashantha C, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Head of the Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Ponnampet.
“From December to March, the focus shifts to coffee harvesting and processing,” he adds.
Local paddy varieties, known for their flavour and aroma, are largely grown for self-consumption. “High-yielding varieties meant for commercial use are declining due to reduced returns,” adds Dr Prashantha.
Labour shortages and increasing human-animal conflict have also discouraged farmers from continuing paddy cultivation.
However, Kodagu is still home to several varieties of paddy. Among the indigenous varieties are Jeerige Sanna, BKB – developed by agriculturist Baduvanda K Belliappa, Biliya, Rajamudi, Doddi and Boliya, while popular high-yielding varieties include Tunga, KPR-1, Athira, BR-2655, MTU 1001 and IR 64.
“Indigenous varieties such as BKB and Doddi grow up to 3.5 feet in height and are a good source of fodder for the cattle. However, they are low-yielding and require 150 days to mature. High-yielding hybrid varieties such as Athira grow 2 to 2.5 ft and have less straw. These varieties mature at 120 days and usually require mechanical harvesters,” says Koniyanda Sanju Somaiah, an agriculturist.
Varietal conservation
According to seed conservationist Ravi Shankar B P, paddy varieties from any part of the country can be grown in Kodagu. Only the yield may vary. He has conserved over 100 varieties of paddy from across the world including the Kala Namak (Buddha rice) from Uttar Pradesh and Magic rice (Komal Saul) from Assam, and wishes to preserve several other unique rice varieties.
“With proper techniques, yields of paddy can be increased fivefold. This involves proper water management and in-situ green manuring. Under this method of manuring, short duration leguminous crops such as cowpea are grown in the field and are incorporated into the soil after sufficient growth, before the paddy saplings are transplanted. This improves soil fertility and its physical, chemical and biological properties, while reducing the need for external manure,” says Ravi Shankar.
Local varieties yield around 10–15 quintals per acre, while high-yielding varieties can produce 25–33 quintals per acre.
Paddy cultivation plays a vital ecological role as well. Waterlogged fields can help recharge groundwater, depending on soil and local conditions.
“The rise in the water table ensures that lakes, ponds and streams do not go dry even during summer” says Dr Veerendra K V, Scientist (Plant Protection) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gonikoppal.
“Government schemes currently support farmers through subsidies on machinery, paddy seeds, pesticides, bio-fertilisers and green manuring crop seeds. However, increasing the minimum support price and offering other monetary benefits for cultivators will ensure increased paddy cultivation in the region,” he adds.
At present, procurement delays and storage challenges continue to deter farmers. While harvesting takes place in November–December, procurement happens only in February–March.
On the table
According to chef Naren Thimmaiah, Kodavas traditionally consumed pukkalakki (boiled rice) as their staple. Jeerige Sanna was used to prepare pulav and ghee rice on special occasions. However, since the mid-20th century, the white BKB variety has been widely adopted in the region. BKB and Jeerige Sanna varieties are also used to prepare otti, noolputt, kadambutt, paputt and thaliyaputt and payasa.
“In Kodava cuisine, pairing the right curry with the main rice-based dish is essential,” adds Naren.
Naada mann, naada kool’ (my soil, my rice) is a popular saying in Kodagu, reflecting the belief that instead of abandoning rice cultivation, each family should maintain at least a small patch. “For this, government support is crucial,” notes Ravi Shankar.
Women workers bundle paddy seedlings for transplantation in a field near Ponnampet in Kodagu. Photos by Ravi Shankar
Workers with harvested paddy. Photo by Ravi Shankar
A paddy field near Ponnampet. Photo by Ravi Shankar
A paddy field near Ponnampet. Photo by Ravi Shankar
source: www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India>Karnataka / by Dhanyata M Poovaiah / April 09th, 2026
Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the SOP has been issued to ensure trekkers’ safety.
A rainforest trail through the Western Ghats in Kudremukh, Karnataka. (File Photo)
Following a series of recent safety incidents in forested trekking routes, the Karnataka government recently introduced a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) mandating that no individual can trek on notified forest trails without a certified nature guide. Trekking in forest areas will now be fully regulated and allowed only with a permit.
Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the SOP has been issued to ensure trekkers’ safety, improve monitoring, and enable faster emergency response in case of accidents or missing persons. The directive comes close on the heels of a Kerala woman surviving three days after losing her way during a trek to Tadiyandamol in Kodagu.
Under the new framework, trekking without a guide will not be permitted under any circumstances. Each group will be accompanied by a certified nature guide, with a fixed ratio of one guide for every 10 trekkers. Authorities have also capped the number of trekkers at 150 per trail per day, while making prior online registration compulsory. The minister clarified that even if a single person registers for a trek on a given day, a guide will be assigned, but solo trekking will not be allowed.
Technology-based monitoring and safety measures
Trekkers will be required to install a temporary mobile tracking application for real-time location monitoring by forest officials. Guides will be equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies and instructed to maintain regular communication with base camps.
Guides will be responsible for keeping the group together, ensuring no trekker moves ahead or falls behind. Mandatory headcounts will be conducted at checkpoints and rest points, while base camp staff will follow up in case of communication delays.
In case of emergencies, a forest officer said, “The group will immediately halt, and a headcount will be taken. The guide will alert the base camp with the exact location and situation report, following which rescue teams will be mobilised.” The Range Forest Officer (RFO) will then coordinate with district administration and the police, deploying drones, thermal cameras, and additional manpower if required.
Officials said all trekking routes will now be clearly marked with colour-coded signs, while hazardous stretches such as cliffs, steep slopes, and water crossings will be marked in red. Route maps, including details of mobile network dead zones, will also be made available online and through a mobile application. Trekkers will additionally be provided with designated rest points along clearly marked trails.
Minors will require parental consent, while senior citizens must submit fitness certificates before undertaking treks. All approved trekking routes under the Forest Department will be integrated into a central online booking platform to streamline access and regulate visitor flow. Group insurance for trekkers is also being considered, along with mandatory first-aid kits for guides.
The SOP also prohibits carrying loud devices, weapons, sharp objects, and single-use plastics. Campfires and flash photography will not be allowed, and trekkers must carry back all waste for disposal at base camps.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Express News Service / April 18th, 2026
The three-day tour will begin on April 27, starting from Bengaluru at 12.30 pm. The team will visit Dubare, Nisargadhama, and Kushalnagar before reaching Madikeri by 6 pm.
A view of Cauvery river / Credit: DH Photo
Mysuru:
Stating that Karnataka has been facing continuous injustice regarding the sharing of Cauvery River water, the Cauvery River Protection Committee will undertake a study tour of the river basin from April 27 to 29. The tour aims to collect ground-level data and evidence, to support a writ petition the committee plans to file before the Supreme Court in May.
Addressing a press conference, in Mysuru, on Wednesday, committee president H K Ramu said that the study will be conducted under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge N Gopalagowda.
Study tour
“The committee will visit various reservoirs and agricultural lands in the Cauvery River basin to interact with farmers, labourers, and members of various farmer organisations. We will collect information, photographs, and video evidence of the current situation, which will be submitted to the Supreme Court during the filing of the writ petition,” Ramu said.
Itinerary
The three-day tour will begin on April 27, starting from Bengaluru at 12.30 pm. The team will visit Dubare, Nisargadhama, and Kushalnagar before reaching Madikeri by 6 pm.
On April 28, the team will offer prayers at Talakaveri at 8 am, followed by a public meeting in Kushalnagar or Harangi. In the afternoon, the committee members will inspect the Hemavathi Dam in Gorur and meet farmer leaders. The day will conclude with a visit to the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district and a meeting at the Jaladarshini Guest House, in Mysuru city.
On April 29, the team will visit the Kabini Dam at 9.30 am and interact with local farmers, elected representatives, and workers. The tour will continue through Nanjangud, T Narsipur, and Shimsha, concluding at Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk, Bengaluru South district, before returning to Bengaluru city.
Committee office-bearers M Chandrashekar, H L Yamuna, K C Madesh, Gangadhara Gowda, Brijesh Kariyappa, Prakash, and former corporator K V Mallesh were present at the press meet.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka> Mysuru / by T R Satish Kumar / April 23rd, 2026
Tamara Leisure Experiences has, since inception, embedded Responsible Hospitality into its core, guided by a clear vision of people, planet, and profit thriving in tandem. Across its portfolio of nine properties, from luxury resorts in Coorg and Kodaikanal to upscale O by Tamara hotels in Coimbatore and Trivandrum, mid-scale Lilac hotels, and its flagship wellness offering Amal Tamara, a NABH-accredited Ayurveda hospital, this philosophy translates into an elevated form of eco-conscious hospitality where design, service, and setting come together to deliver immersive, low-impact luxury. The flagship property, The Tamara Coorg, holds the Global Sustainable Tourism Council certification, underscoring its alignment with global sustainability standards, with a clear roadmap to extend this benchmark across all Tamara properties.
Samir MC, CEO, Tamara Leisure Experiences, said, “Our nine property portfolio is aligned to GSTC principles. And I want to be honest about what that distinction means, because the certification is the outcome, but the real value is in the discipline the journey instills across your entire organisation. This is not a badge. It is a framework to make your circular systems auditable, measurable, and accountable. Our goal is to make that the portfolio standard, not a novelty at one property.”
“Earth Day serves as a timely reminder of shared responsibility towards the planet, and at TamaraLeisureExperiences, this is reflected through on-ground actions across its properties, from farm to table experiences and community clean-up drives to sustainability-led engagements. These efforts extend into Earth Week (22–28 April) through nature-led activities, conscious dining, and community participation, where sustainability is not an add-on but the experience itself. At Tamara, responsiblehospitality is foundational, shaping every stage from design and conceptualization to operations and guest experience. For us, sustainability is not a seasonal campaign, but a part of our daily operating philosophy.”
Here’s how this philosophy comes to life across key pillars:
Sustainability in Design
Each Tamara property is planned with the local environment in mind, designed to retain and work with its natural surroundings, allowing the ecosystem to shape how the space is built and experienced. For example, At The Tamara Coorg, sustainability is a design decision guided by a clear ethos, build less to preserve more. Set across 28 acres of largely untouched landscape, the resort was developed with minimal ecological disruption, felling just 17 trees and consciously scaling down from 60 to 56 cottages to protect even more. Elevated on stilts, each structure sits lightly on the land, allowing the forest to remain undisturbed, where trees are not cleared but seamlessly woven into the architecture and experience.
Rooted in Community care, designed for continuity
At Tamara, sustainability extends to the people who shape the experience, expressed through local immersion, farm to table practices, and menus rooted in regional flavours and wellness, from Kodava cuisine in Coorg to place-led dining across properties. This continues at Verandah, the in-house boutique, where locally inspired crafts, natural wellness products, and plantation-grown spices offer a tangible extension of the region’s heritage.
Guided by community and circular thinking, nearly half the workforce is locally hired and close to 40% of procurement is regional, strengthening livelihoods while keeping operations rooted. This comes through most tangibly in the organic minibar, where every product is local, organic, and traceable, and in the kitchen, where menus are shaped by what is locally and seasonally available, ensuring procurement drives the plate. Ongoing support for education and local institutions reinforces a long-term commitment to community development.
Zero Waste Living
Across Tamara properties, 15-40 tonnes of waste is reimagined as a resource through a closed loop system where nothing is discarded and everything is repurposed. 100% food waste is recycled in house through low impact processes like Bio Manthan, plastic is replaced with glass bottles, stainless steel dispensers and refillable amenities, while circular practices extend to repurposed linen, reused bottles, kitchen gardens, greenhouses and seed saving, with food waste reduced to 0.54 kg per head. With zero significant chemical spills in FY 2024-25, this carries into the guest experience, with leaf coasters, bamboo alternatives, towel reuse, alternate linen changes, and sapling takeaways ensuring the philosophy is both visible and lived.
Mindful use of every resource
Resource conservation is deliberate and deeply local. Natural waterfalls and stream water are left untouched to preserve community sources. While rainwater harvesting systems and tap aerators reduce consumption, LED lighting, heat pumps, lithium battery buggies, key tag controls, EV infrastructure, solar panels and emission management ensure energy optimisation. Behind the scenes, efficiency is engineered into every system, smart laundry and advanced STP and ETP plants enable reuse, while continuous monitoring of water, energy, and carbon, along with thoughtful material reuse, keeps operations tightly optimised and low impact.
Quiet design and conscious tech
Throughout properties, impact is reduced through thoughtful restraint. The absence of DJ music and harsh lighting limits noise and light pollution, while low lux pathways, timers, and sensors minimize ecological disturbance. A seamless tech enabled journey with digital check ins, e-bills, and paperless feedback reduces waste, supported by in-house water systems over plastic. From horn free EV buggies to reusable linen elements and locally rooted touches, every detail is intentional and quietly conscious
At Tamara, responsiblehospitality shapes how we think, design, and operate across the portfolio. It brings sourcing, consumption, and recovery into careful alignment, ensuring that sustainability is quietly built into everyday operations
source: http://www.businessnewsthisweek.com/ Business News This Week / Home> Business / by Neel Achary / April 22nd, 2026
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