Management of tree cover in coffee-based agroforestry systems of Kodagu. ComMod approach for integrated renewable resources management
Résumé
Coffee plantations in Kodagu are complex multistorey agroforestry systems. Modifying different parameters of the canopy, farmers’ decisions and strategies have a direct impact on their livelihood but also on the biodiversity at the landscape level. These decisions are driven by economical, agronomical and institutional factors in complex interactions. The resulting dynamics are a loss of tree cover and an increase in the proportion of Grevillea robusta at the expenses of the native tree species. Using the Companion modeling approach (www.commod.org), we explore these drivers and elicit farmers’ strategies using Role-Playing-Games. The game reproduces a coffee estate with decisions to be taken to manage the tree cover. It reveals the farmers’ strategies and builds a shared image of the future landscape. Resulting scenarios are discussed between the participants to explore alternate strategies and possible new policies such as devolution of timber rights to the farmers, coffee certification schemes and payment for ecosystem services.