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Abstract
Biomass based agriculture, one of the reasons for biomass depletion in the Western Ghats, unless
addressed can disturb the forest ecosystem and thereby impact agriculture adversely. A study of four
villages in Uttara Kannada district shows that farmers cultivating both arecanut and sugarcane extract
almost double the quantity of biomass that paddy cultivators do, mostly from natural forests. Instances of
biomass saving with the adoption of fuel-efficient stoves and live-fences show that there is a huge
potential to save further. But to add momentum to conservation programme, there is a need for awareness
creation and government assistance for villagers to adopt these techniques.