What is Western Ghats?
Historical Background
Key Points
9 points- 1.
Stretches across six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- 2.
Home to a vast array of endemic flora and fauna, including many endangered species.
- 3.
Source of several major peninsular rivers, including Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
- 4.
Crucial for India's monsoon weather patterns, influencing rainfall across the peninsula.
- 5.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, with 39 serial sites within the range.
- 6.
Threatened by deforestation, mining, urbanization, infrastructure projects, and climate change.
- 7.
Recommendations for conservation and management were provided by the Gadgil Committee (2011) and Kasturirangan Committee (2013).
- 8.
Contains numerous biodiversity hotspots and protected areas like the Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster, Periyar Tiger Reserve, and Silent Valley National Park.
- 9.
Plays a vital role in ecological services such as water purification, soil conservation, and climate regulation.
Recent Developments
5 developmentsOngoing debates and challenges in implementing the recommendations of the Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees, particularly regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
Increased focus on eco-tourism and sustainable development practices to balance conservation with livelihood needs.
Growing concerns over the impact of climate change on the fragile ecosystem, leading to extreme weather events.
Infrastructure projects in the region often face stringent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) due to ecological sensitivity.
Efforts by state governments and central agencies to declare and manage Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around protected areas.