Tree diversity in coffee plantations in different land tenure systems

Assessment of tree diversity in coffee plantations under different land tenure systems in Virajpet taluk, Kodagu Coffee is cultivated under the canopy cover of natural or planted trees and coffee plantations are prevalent in many parts of the world and in India. Kodagu district in Central Western Ghats in the second largest coffee growing district in India and coffee plantations cover 29 Percent of the geographical area of the district. The management of trees in these plantations is mainly determined mainly by the kind of tree rights given to the owner. The study was conducted in Coffee plantations under two land tenure systems in semi evergreen and moist deciduous vegetation types in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu district. Structural components of canopy cover namely density, basal area, volume and size class distribution of coffee plantation was well maintained under unredeemed plantations and semi evergreen vegetation compared to redeem and moist deciduous vegetation. Species richness and diversity of native tree species was higher in unredeemed coffee plantation in semi evergreen vegetation, while the richness and diversity if exotic tree species