Western Ghats Conservation
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Environment
Source: IE
Context: Ecologist Madhav Gadgil has urged for a community-centric approach to conserve the Western Ghats, citing failure of forest bureaucracy and neglect of Forest Rights Act implementation.
About Western Ghats Conservation:
• What is It? A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s eight hottest hotspots of biodiversity, the Western Ghats stretch along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, influencing monsoon systems and sustaining rich ecosystems.
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s eight hottest hotspots of biodiversity, the Western Ghats stretch along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, influencing monsoon systems and sustaining rich ecosystems.
• States Involved: Spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Key Features:
• Rich Biodiversity: Hosts over 7,400 species, with high endemism in flora and fauna. Hydrological Role: Origin of rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, critical for peninsular water security. Climatic Influence: Traps monsoon winds, creating high rainfall zones and acting as a climate regulator. Topographical Diversity: Composed of lateritic plateaus, escarpments, valleys, and peaks like Anai Mudi (2,695 m).
• Rich Biodiversity: Hosts over 7,400 species, with high endemism in flora and fauna.
• Hydrological Role: Origin of rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, critical for peninsular water security.
• Climatic Influence: Traps monsoon winds, creating high rainfall zones and acting as a climate regulator.
• Topographical Diversity: Composed of lateritic plateaus, escarpments, valleys, and peaks like Anai Mudi (2,695 m).
Formation of Western Ghats:
• Precambrian Origin: The Western Ghats are part of the Peninsular Shield (Deccan Plateau), dating back to the Precambrian Era (>600 million years ago). Formed through cratonic uplift and volcanic activity, not orogenic (folding) processes like the Himalayas.
• The Western Ghats are part of the Peninsular Shield (Deccan Plateau), dating back to the Precambrian Era (>600 million years ago).
• Formed through cratonic uplift and volcanic activity, not orogenic (folding) processes like the Himalayas.
• Deccan Traps Volcanism: The plateau’s uplift and the massive basaltic lava flows during the Deccan Trap eruption led to step-like highlands across western India. The Ghats are the western edge of this trap topography (trap = stair-step in Swedish).
• The plateau’s uplift and the massive basaltic lava flows during the Deccan Trap eruption led to step-like highlands across western India.
• The Ghats are the western edge of this trap topography (trap = stair-step in Swedish).
• Faulting and Escarpment Formation: As India drifted northward after breaking from Gondwana (~100 million years ago), the western edge of the Deccan Plateau fractured and subsided, forming an escarpment (steep slope). The Arabian Sea coast subsided, and the land adjacent to it (the Ghats) remained uplifted, forming a rugged edge.
• As India drifted northward after breaking from Gondwana (~100 million years ago), the western edge of the Deccan Plateau fractured and subsided, forming an escarpment (steep slope).
• The Arabian Sea coast subsided, and the land adjacent to it (the Ghats) remained uplifted, forming a rugged edge.
• Erosional and Fluvial Processes: Over millions of years, erosion by monsoon-fed rivers carved deep valleys and dissected the mountain range. Today’s terrain shows residual plateaus, lateritic caps, and canyon-like valleys.
• Over millions of years, erosion by monsoon-fed rivers carved deep valleys and dissected the mountain range.
• Today’s terrain shows residual plateaus, lateritic caps, and canyon-like valleys.
Issues Plaguing the Western Ghats:
• Flawed Forest Governance: Forest Department uses outdated and inflated data, limiting transparency and ecological planning.
E.g. Gadgil’s 1975 study in Uttara Kannada revealed 10x overestimated bamboo stocks used to justify a paper mill.
• Industrial Pollution & Misuse of Resources: Polluting industries operate in ecologically fragile zones, backed by state support and no accountability.
E.g. Grasim Rayon Factory discharged toxic mercury into Chaliyar River, destroying fisheries and tribal livelihoods.
• Non-Implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: Tribal and forest-dependent communities continue to be denied Community Forest Rights (CFR) despite legal entitlements.
E.g. In most districts of Kerala and Karnataka, CFR claims remain pending, causing disenfranchisement.
• Monoculture Plantations & Pesticide Use: Forest lands are diverted for eucalyptus and acacia plantations, harming native biodiversity and soil health.
E.g. Wayanad experienced decline in pollinators and soil microbes due to pesticide-intensive plantations.
• Ecologically Harmful Fire Practices: Communities light fires to collect tendu leaves, degrading forest cover and threatening wildlife habitats.
E.g. Forest fires in Gadchiroli and parts of Karnataka have escalated due to unsustainable collection methods.
• Inaccessible, Aggregated Forest Data: Forest Survey of India provides delayed and district-level data, hiding local forest degradation.
E.g. In the 1970s, NRSC satellite imagery showed forest cover at 15%, while FD falsely claimed 23%.
Committees on Western Ghats Conservation:
• Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), 2011 Led by Madhav Gadgil, recommended ESA zoning, CFR implementation, and Gram Sabha-led conservation.
• Led by Madhav Gadgil, recommended ESA zoning, CFR implementation, and Gram Sabha-led conservation.
• Kasturirangan Committee, 2013 Favoured a development-friendly approach, reducing ESA coverage and diluting people’s participation in governance.
• Favoured a development-friendly approach, reducing ESA coverage and diluting people’s participation in governance.
Way Ahead:
• Implement Community Forest Rights (CFR) under FRA, 2006: Recognizing CFR empowers communities economically and ecologically by giving them ownership and responsibility.
E.g. Pachgaon, Maharashtra earns income from bamboo, avoids forest fires, and has restored sacred groves.
• Promote Democratic Decentralisation: Empowering Gram Sabhas ensures local knowledge and accountability in forest conservation.
E.g. Kerala’s VSS model (Vana Samrakshana Samiti) enables community-led forest protection and revenue sharing.
• Modernise Ecological Data Systems: Use real-time open-access satellite tools like Google Earth or Bhuvan for monitoring forest health and changes.
E.g. Global Forest Watch now provides 30m resolution data that can be used to counter false FSI claims.
• Ban Unsustainable Industrial Activities in ESA: Enforce SC-mandated mining bans in wildlife corridors and fragile ecosystems to avoid irreversible biodiversity loss.
E.g. Mining in Goa and Kerala hill tracts led to habitat fragmentation and water table depletion.
• Promote Biodiversity-Compatible Livelihoods: Encourage NTFP-based enterprises, eco-tourism, and agro-forestry to align income generation with conservation.
E.g. Wayanad tribal co-operatives market organic turmeric and wild honey internationally.
Conclusion:
The Western Ghats are vital for India’s ecological stability, water security, and cultural heritage. Conservation cannot succeed without empowering its long-standing forest communities. Democratic, data-driven, and ecologically just governance is the only way forward.
• There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? (UPSC-2013)