Climate change threatening appemidi mango in Karnataka: Conservationists

A group of about 30 conservationists and activists took up a 30-km march over the last three days to assess the current status of appemidi trees in the Aghanashini belt.

Bengaluru: Appemidi mango, the raw mango that received GI (geographical indication) tag in 2009 in recognition of its culinary and cultural heritage, is facing the threat of climate change with experts stressing the need for in-situ conservation of the natural trees in the Aghanashini valley.

A group of about 30 conservationists and activists took up a 30-km march over the last three days (March 30-April 1) to assess the current status of appemidi trees in the Aghanashini belt, from Sarakuli village of Siddapur taluk to the Unchalli Falls in Sirsi taluk.

The three-day padayatra recorded primary observations and testimonies by farmers who pointed to weather extremes for the reduction in the fruits per tree. The assessment also showed that tree density was high in areas that have not seen major human interventions.

Balachandra Hegde Saimane, a landscape ecologist and also a practising farmer, said while both ex-situ and in-situ conservation were important to save appemidi, experiments over the last 10 years have shown that protecting the trees in their natural landscape is the best path forward. "The local climate, the soil and other factors of the valley play a huge role in the survival and growth of the appemidi trees. The extreme weather events of the last few years have led to reduced fruiting," he added.

Saimane has been keeping track of precipitation in the area for over 15 years through a rain gauge. He cited the wide variation in the days of 'effective rainfall' (about 50 mm/day), a term he uses to describe the optimum amount of rain spread over a period of time allowing greater percolation.

In 2021, the area received a massive 600 mm rain within 24 hours with the effective rainfall limited to 17 days. In 2025, effective rainfall was spread over 165 days. "For our landscape, the number of average effective rainfall days was 120. This wide variation we are seeing in the rainfall patterns, along with the rise in the temperatures, has had a major impact on the plants that needs to be studied. In the case of appemidi, the impact is visible," he said.

33 'accessions'

Studies have documented 33 accessions (distinct and uniquely identified samples) of appemidi and conservationists believe that many are facing threat. Conservationists in Uttara Kannada have documented the loss of some of these distinct samples.

Saimane noted that the efforts to save the famed 'Ananta Bhattana Appe' have not yielded the desired results. "The fall of that Ananta Bhattana Appe tree had created a sensation. Many people sought to save the variety. Despite grafting and other efforts, there is no fruiting in these trees," he said.

Ananta Hegde Ashisar, former chairman of the Karnataka Biodiversity Board, said appemidi was part of the heritage of the land. "Protecting these trees is both ecologically and culturally important. Commercial cultivation will not be able to save all the distinct varieties of this mango," he said.

Ashisar said they were trying to work with spices board on getting recogniton for appemidi. "We know that we can't save appemidi without saving the landscape. Therefore, we are also fighting to get the entire area declared as a biodiversity heritage spot.