Western Ghats - Biome Protection

Biome Protection

Historically the Western Ghats were well-covered in dense forests that provided wild foods and natural habitats for native tribal people. Its inaccessibility made it difficult for people from the plains to cultivate the land and build settlements. After the arrival of the British in the area, large swathes of territory were cleared for agricultural plantations and timber. The forest in the Western Ghats has been severely fragmented due to human activities, especially clear felling for tea, coffee, and teak plantations during 1860 to 1950. Species that are rare, endemic and habitat specialists are more adversely affected and tend to be lost faster than other species. Complex and species rich habitats like the tropical rainforest are much more adversely affected than other habitats.

The area is ecologically sensitive to development and was declared an ecological hotspot in 1988 through the efforts of ecologist Norman Myers. Though this area covers barely five percent of India's land, 27% of all species of higher plants in India (4,000 of 15,000 species) are found here. Almost 1,800 of these are endemic to the region. The range is home to at least 84 amphibian species, 16 bird species, seven mammals, and 1,600 flowering plants which are not found elsewhere in the world.

The Government of India established many protected areas including 2 biosphere reserves, 13 National parks to restrict human access, several wildlife sanctuaries to protect specific endangered species and many Reserve Forests, which are all managed by the forest departments of their respective state to preserve some of the ecoregions still undeveloped. Many National Parks were initially Wildlife Sanctuaries. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve comprising 5500 km² of the evergreen forests of Nagarahole, deciduous forests of Bandipur National Park and Nugu in Karnataka and adjoining regions of Wayanad, Mudumalai National Park and Mukurthi National Park in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats is home to numerous serene hill stations like Munnar, Ponmudi and Waynad. The Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is among the last tracts of virgin tropical evergreen forest in India.

Regarding the Western Ghats, in November 2009, Minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh said,

"The Western Ghats has to be made an "ecologically sensitive zone". It is as important as the ecological system of the Himalayas for protection of the environment and climate of the country. The Central government will not give sanction for mining and hydroelectric projects proposed by the State Governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa that will destroy the Western Ghats eco-system.’’

In a letter dated 20 June 2009, Mr. Ramesh said,

“The (proposed) 200-MW Gundia hydel project of Karnataka Power Corporation in Hassan district would drown almost 1,900 acres (7.7 km2) of thick forest in the already endangered Western Ghats along with all its fauna. This is something that both Karnataka and our country can ill-afford." "Power generation should not happen at the cost of ecological security."

The Expert Appraisal Committee appointed by Union Government also said that the project should not be taken up.

In August, 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) designated the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and, assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to its different regions.

In 2006, India applied to the UNESCO MAB for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site. In 2012 following 39 places are declared as World Heritage Sites:

• Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
• Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
• Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kulathupuzha Range
• Palode Range
• Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Ranni Forest Division
• Konni Forest Division
• Achankovil Forest Division
• Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary
• Tirunelveli (North) Forest Division (part)
• Eravikulam National Park (and proposed extension)
• Grass Hills National Park
• Karian Shola National Park
• Karian Shola (part of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary)
• Mankulam Range
• Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Mannavan Shola
• Silent Valley National Park
• New Amarambalam Reserved Forest
• Mukurthi National Park
• Kalikavu Range
• Attapadi Reserved Forest
• Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
• Padinalknad Reserved Forest
• Kerti Reserved Forest
• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kudremukh National Park
• Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Someshwara Reserved Forest
• Agumbe Reserved Forest
• Balahalli Reserved Forest
• File:Kas Plateau
• Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
• Chandoli National Park
• Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary