Shade Coffee Plantations in Karnataka Offer Hope for Forest Restoration in the Western Ghats

The study across eight coffee agroforests in Hassan and Chikmagalur found 90 native tree species for forest restoration, including 30 of high conservation priority.

CHIKMAGALUR/HASSAN: Shade-grown coffee plantations in Karnataka’s Western Ghats are emerging as unexpected allies in the fight to restore native forests, according to a new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. The research, led by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) along with local coffee estate owners in Chikmagalur and Hassan, highlights how these agroforests could serve as vital sources of native tree species for ecological restoration.

The study, conducted across eight polyculture shade coffee agroforests in Hassan and Chikmagalur districts, identified 90 native tree species suitable for forest restoration — including 30 of high conservation priority. Remarkably, many of these species are absent from public nurseries managed by forest departments, which are the main source of saplings for restoration efforts in the region.

Researchers recorded over 3,700 adult trees and high densities of naturally regenerating seedlings. However, routine weed-clearing in coffee estates often destroys these valuable seedlings. Instead of being discarded, the study proposes rescuing these seeds and saplings and nurturing them in nurseries for use in forest restoration projects.

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In a year-long pilot initiative, the team successfully collected more than 18,000 seeds and seedlings from just three coffee estates. These were then grown in two newly established nurseries to support local restoration efforts.

"Coffee agroforests, especially those that retain native shade trees, are an underutilised resource for sourcing diverse, locally adapted plant material," said lead author Dr Anand Osuri. "With proper planning and partnerships, they can play a major role in restoring degraded landscapes."

The study recommends that restoration practitioners collaborate closely with estate owners — who already possess nursery infrastructure — to scale up native plant sourcing. It also calls for policies and incentives to encourage coffee growers to support conservation, not just within their estates but beyond.

The approach could help reduce dependence on wild forest areas for seeds and seedlings, promoting more ethical and sustainable restoration. It also reinforces the value of traditional agroforestry in preserving biodiversity amidst increasing agricultural intensification.

This research repositions shade coffee plantations as not just producers of premium beans, but as partners in ecological restoration — a win-win for farmers, forests and biodiversity.

Citation: Osuri, A.M., Kumar, V.S., et al. (2025). Shade coffee agroforests as native plant sources for restoration. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.70046

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