Carbon footprint of Robusta based coffee agroforests of Kodagu in the Central Western Ghats region of India

Abstract

Kodagu district in the central Western Ghats of India, known for its unique coffee agroforests represents a significant opportunity for studying carbon footprints. The study was carried out to assess the carbon footprint associated with the different management practices followed in the coffee agroforests by small (<10 ha.) and large (>10 ha.) farmers. A questionnaire survey was carried out to assess the carbon footprint. The results revealed that small land holdings had less carbon footprint than large land holdings which accounted for 1.44 Mg CO2e ha-1 y-1 and 1.75 Mg CO2e ha-1 y-1 respectively. The study highlighted traditional shaded coffee agroforests, significantly contributed to sustainable agroforestry practices.