However, in areas where native vegetation was fragmented by agroforestry systems, Eucalyptus
plantation may assume an important ecological role. For example, in Anamalai Hills (Western Ghats,
India), an area dominated by tea, coffee, and Eucalyptus plantations, interspersed by rainforest
fragments, Eucalyptus stands are important habitats for the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), by
providing cover, food and shelter, mitigating human-elephant conflicts (Kumar et al., 2010).