Western Ghats and Ecological Conservation

The Western Ghats, an ecologically significant mountain range in India, span six coastal states and are internationally recognized for their rich biodiversity. This region includes 39 biodiversity hotspot areas, such as national parks, reserved forests, and wildlife sanctuaries, which were declared World Heritage Sites (WHS) by UNESCO in 2012.

Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP)

To protect the Western Ghats' natural heritage, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) was established in 2010. This panel was chaired by Madhav Gadgil, an ecologist, academic, and writer. The WGEEP's report recommended:

• Declaration of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA):
  • 142 talukas across 44 districts in the entire Western Ghats were recommended for ESA status.
  • Sub-division into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ).
  • Objective: Regulation of human activities to protect fragile ecosystems.
  • Legal Protection: Notification under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to provide legal protection.

Opposition and Review

The WGEEP recommendations faced strong local and political opposition in the concerned states. Consequently, the central government formed a high-level working group led by Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan in 2012 to review these recommendations. The key outcomes of this review included:

• Limitation of Restrictions: The group limited restrictions on economic activities and livelihoods to ecologically sensitive natural landscapes.
• Reduction of Covered Area: The area covered by the recommendations was reduced to only 37% of the Western Ghats.