Some are lawyers, others are teachers, doctors or businesspersons. Many are retired defence personnel and coffee planters, in addition to being paddy cultivators. This diverse group makes up the Kodagu Ekikarna Ranga (KER), an organisation fighting to preserve and protect the culture and heritage of Karnataka's Kodagu district (formerly known as Coorg).

KER's main objective is to protect Kodagu's virgin forests from unscrupulous timber merchants. Says Thamoo Poovaiah, KER's district coordinator, "Forests are a part of our culture and heritage and our survival depends on it. Yet, timber merchants use every loophole in the law to fell trees. We are trying to stop them using legal processes."

KER was formed in January 1991 as an "association of like-minded people." It has no political affiliations and opposes politicians and bureaucrats whose actions threaten the district's ecology. It is not a registered body, nor does it collect funds.

Explains Poovaiah, "We decided not to get registered or go in for a membership drive and collect funds because it would have led to politicking and no work would get done. But, when we want support for a campaign, we go directly to the people." KER has a core group of 30 members, with supporters in 70 per cent of the villages in the district, from all classes and parties.
Court battles A major part of KER's battles takes place in court. Its vigilance squads patrol the area at night to nab timber smugglers. Recently, KER intervened to stop agents of Kerala's Nilambur Rubber Co who allegedly connived with forest and revenue officials to fell more than 15,000 rare trees growing in the Western Ghats.

Explains Poovaiah, "Merchants misuse the Karnataka preservation of trees act (KPTA), which prohibits tree felling without prior permission of the tree officer. If there is no response to an application within the stipulated period -- 60 days in urban areas and one year in rural areas -- permission is deemed to have been granted."

Poovaiah claims the merchants file applications to fell trees with the district officer and bribe lower officials to conceal the files till the statutory waiting period is over. The merchants then secure high court directives to cut timber and fell trees with impunity.

Says V S Bharat Kumar, who filed the application against the Nilambur firm, "The merchants get the court orders on the plea that the state government slept on their application. Usually, the court admonishes the officials concerned."

Under KPTA, if someone fells more trees than permitted, the maximum penalty is Rs 5,000. Poovaiah blames the authorities for encouraging deforestation by failing to treat the illegal felling of every tree as a separate offence. "The merchants," says Poovaiah, "who make lakhs of rupees by clear felling virgin forests are only too glad to pay this small sum."

Says Promod, a KER member, "Moreover, felling is done on the pretext of planting rubber, but Kodagu is unfit for rubber cultivation both because of the soil conditions and the heavy rainfall."
Water shortage According to most KER members, the heavy destruction of forests every year has lowered the water table in the entire district, especially in the Cauvery watershed, where felling has been the highest. KER members, says Poovaiah, visited the area and found out from the villagers that after the rains, moisture is retained in the top soil for only two or three days, compared to 25-30 days earlier. Even though the Cauvery and its tributaries are reduced to a trickle by March, groundwater was available throughout the year because of the forests. "But now, groundwater is scarce and many small streams have totally dried up," says Poovaiah.

Besides arresting unrestricted clear-felling, KER undertakes plantations and some members run an English-medium school. Other issues on KER's agenda include environment education campaigns, protection of sacred groves and sustainable agriculture.

Many local officials and small-time politicians oppose KER's activities, "because we expose them and they cannot get away scot-free with their crimes," says Pramod. Already, some officials have been booked for corruption.

When a large area of the Nagarahole national park was set on fire in March 1992 following a dispute between villagers and forest officials, a section of the press held KER responsible (See box).

Despite bad press and a separatist image, the people seem to support KER. Says M A Kushalappa, a 69-year-old farmer and coffee planter of Cheramane village, "They are doing a good thing. If I were not so old, I would have joined them."