Case Study #07: India – Agroforestry and the dependence of marginal farmers on ecosystem services in Kodagu

This case study analyzes how coffee agroforestry systems in Kodagu, India, have partially mitigated biodiversity loss in the face of historical, economic and climatic pressures, but also how agricultural intensification, changes in land tenure and market liberalization have led to deforestation and ecological degradation. The paper highlights the value of integrating traditional practices, participatory governance and public policies to balance agricultural production, biodiversity conservation and smallholder livelihoods, offering key lessons for the sustainable management of agricultural landscapes in tropical contexts.