Ranging from biodiversity-rich mangroves along the coast, scrub jungles and dry deciduous forests in the plains and high-altitude grasslands and majestic evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in the east (covering 20 % of total geographical area, Karnataka State Action Plan on Climate Change 2011 ), the state of Karnataka is home to a tremendous variety of ecosystems. Despite its vast and verdant forest resources, Karnataka is more renowned for the exponential growth of its economic sector spurred largely by the information technology and biotechnology sectors. Though the state witnessed an 8.2 % growth in 2010–2011 and huge expansion of its urban centres particularly the capital city of Bangalore, more than 90 % of the approximately 60 million that comprise Karnataka’s population still reside in the rural areas, earning a living from agriculture and related activities. Owing to the large forest area of the state, many of these farming communities are located at the interface of forests, farms or plantations. Due to their proximity to forests, forest-related activities are often a major source of income for the landless and marginal farmers that live in these regions. The reliance on forests is primarily for fuelwood, fodder, timber and poles for houses and agricultural implements. Among these, fuelwood is the most important often being the only source of energy for cooking and heating for most households.