TRADITIONAL HOMEGARDENS OF KERALA - A SUSTAINABLE HUMAN ECOSYSTEM

An analogue approach to analysing the traditional homegardens of Keral a vis-a-vis natural climax ecosystems is adopted. The traditional home garden is apparently a climax ecosystem, where ecological succession i s consciously manipulated by human beings. High intensity of vertical and horizontal space use, the highly dynamic chronological structure a nd the capacity to perform essential ecological processes make this ec osystem relatively sustainable. Homegardens in Kerala effectively serv e as human ecosystems with their low input demand, staggered supply of outputs, and enhancement of habitat quality. However, recent trends i n agrarian structure and the high market orientation exert pressures o n the homegarden, and its sustainability as a human ecosystem is in qu estion.