Fruit trees and farmers first: A conversation with Smitha Krishnan
The interdependence of pollinators, trees, farms and people motivates Smitha Krishnan’s research. In this feature, she outlines the principles of multifunctional landscapes, and how the Alliance’s partnerships in India - especially cultivating fruit trees - can drive community change.
Fruit trees and farmers first: A conversation with Smitha Krishnan
The interdependence of pollinators, trees, farms and people motivates Smitha Krishnan’s research. In this feature, she outlines the principles of multifunctional landscapes, and how the Alliance’s partnerships in India - especially cultivating fruit trees - can drive community change.
But she has also seen how quickly those natural relationships can be disrupted, as deforestation and land degradation deplete the land’s productive ability.
“These experiences led me to focus on landscape restoration and ecosystem services through biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. I am motivated by solutions that support both people and nature in the long term.”
For Indian ecologist Smitha Krishnan, it all began with the bees and other pollinators behind every coffee harvest. She explains:
“I've always been fascinated by the critical roles insects play in forest resilience and food security. Working with forest-fringe communities and coffee farmers helped me understand just how integral these ecological relationships are to sustaining livelihoods.”