Coffee plantations in the Western Ghats sustain high bird diversity in India, according to a scientific study of tropical birds, covering an area of 30,000 sqkm in Karnataka.
Coffee, rubber and areca agroforests are found to support 204 bird species, including 13 endemic birds of the Western Ghats.
The study is entitled "Producing Diversity: Agroforests Sustain Avian Richness and Abundance in Indias Western Ghats". Dr Krithi K Karanth (Associate Conservation Scientist, WCS-NY) was the lead author. He said: "The study, which evaluated bird diversity in areca, coffee and rubber agroforests in Wester Ghats, involved intensive research in 187 plantations in the last two years."
The study finds that coffee agroforests support higher diversity and abundance of birds compared to areca and rubber. The study also found 13 endemic bird species.
"Large-bodied frugivores like pigeons and hornbills are found in much higher densities in coffee. These birds play a very important role of seed-dispersal and maintenance of forest trees in the region," says Shashank Dalvi, an ornithologist and co-author of the paper.
The authors noted that the biodiversity value of agroforests discovered in the study should be incorporated into future planning and policy decisions to facilitate and promote long-term biodiversity conservation. These scientific results should be integrated with policy and markets so that biodiversity-rich agroforests can be incentivised to promote sustainable farming practices that enhance birds in coffee, rubber and areca agroforests, the research paper suggested.
![]( "Coppersmith Barbet. Photo by Shashank Dalvi")
Coffee plantations in the Western Ghats sustain high bird diversity in India, according to a scientific study of tropical birds, covering an area of 30,000 sqkm in Karnataka.
Coffee, rubber and areca agroforests are found to support 204 bird species, including 13 endemic birds of the Western Ghats.
The study is entitled "Producing Diversity: Agroforests Sustain Avian Richness and Abundance in India's Western Ghats”. Dr Krithi K Karanth (Associate Conservation Scientist, WCS-NY) was the lead author. He said: "The study, which evaluated bird diversity in areca, coffee and rubber agroforests in Wester Ghats, involved intensive research in 187 plantations in the last two years.”
The study finds that coffee agroforests support higher diversity and abundance of birds compared to areca and rubber. The study also found 13 endemic bird species.
"Large-bodied frugivores like pigeons and hornbills are found in much higher densities in coffee. These birds play a very important role of seed-dispersal and maintenance of forest trees in the region,” says Shashank Dalvi, an ornithologist and co-author of the paper.
The authors noted that the biodiversity value of agroforests discovered in the study should be incorporated into future planning and policy decisions to facilitate and promote long-term biodiversity conservation. These scientific results should be integrated with policy and markets so that biodiversity-rich agroforests can be incentivised to promote sustainable farming practices that enhance birds in coffee, rubber and areca agroforests, the research paper suggested.
Coffee, rubber and areca agroforests are found to support 204 bird species, including 13 endemic birds of the Western Ghats.
The study is entitled "Producing Diversity: Agroforests Sustain Avian Richness and Abundance in Indias Western Ghats". Dr Krithi K Karanth (Associate Conservation Scientist, WCS-NY) was the lead author. He said: "The study, which evaluated bird diversity in areca, coffee and rubber agroforests in Wester Ghats, involved intensive research in 187 plantations in the last two years."
The study finds that coffee agroforests support higher diversity and abundance of birds compared to areca and rubber. The study also found 13 endemic bird species.
"Large-bodied frugivores like pigeons and hornbills are found in much higher densities in coffee. These birds play a very important role of seed-dispersal and maintenance of forest trees in the region," says Shashank Dalvi, an ornithologist and co-author of the paper.
The authors noted that the biodiversity value of agroforests discovered in the study should be incorporated into future planning and policy decisions to facilitate and promote long-term biodiversity conservation. These scientific results should be integrated with policy and markets so that biodiversity-rich agroforests can be incentivised to promote sustainable farming practices that enhance birds in coffee, rubber and areca agroforests, the research paper suggested.
Coffee plantations in the Western Ghats sustain high bird diversity in India, according to a scientific study of tropical birds, covering an area of 30,000 sqkm in Karnataka. Coffee, rubber and areca agroforests are found to support 204 bird species, including 13 endemic birds of the Western Ghats.
The study is entitled "Producing Diversity: Agroforests Sustain Avian Richness and Abundance in India's Western Ghats”. Dr Krithi K Karanth (Associate Conservation Scientist, WCS-NY) was the lead author. He said: "The study, which evaluated bird diversity in areca, coffee and rubber agroforests in Wester Ghats, involved intensive research in 187 plantations in the last two years.”
The study finds that coffee agroforests support higher diversity and abundance of birds compared to areca and rubber. The study also found 13 endemic bird species.
"Large-bodied frugivores like pigeons and hornbills are found in much higher densities in coffee. These birds play a very important role of seed-dispersal and maintenance of forest trees in the region,” says Shashank Dalvi, an ornithologist and co-author of the paper.
The authors noted that the biodiversity value of agroforests discovered in the study should be incorporated into future planning and policy decisions to facilitate and promote long-term biodiversity conservation. These scientific results should be integrated with policy and markets so that biodiversity-rich agroforests can be incentivised to promote sustainable farming practices that enhance birds in coffee, rubber and areca agroforests, the research paper suggested.