Western Ghats: India’s Biodiversity Hotspot Under Threat

Western Ghats: India’s Biodiversity Hotspot Under Threat

Context:

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 has placed India’s Western Ghats under the category of “significant concern”.
Key threats include climate change, unregulated tourism, and invasive species.
This highlights the urgent need for sustainable management and conservation measures to protect this globally significant ecosystem.

About the Western Ghats:

What it is:

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Hills, form a north–south mountain range along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau.
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they are one of the eight hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world.

Location:

Runs parallel to the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, covering about 1,600 km from the Tapti River in Gujarat to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
Traverses six states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Covers an area of approximately 1,64,280 sq km.
Interrupted by the 30 km wide Palghat Gap near 11°N latitude.

Formation and Geological Significance:

Older than the Himalayas, formed during the breakup of Gondwanaland (~150 million years ago).
Composed mainly of basaltic lava flows and residual plateaus.
Acts as a geomorphic and climatic barrier, influencing India’s monsoon system.
Considered an “Evolutionary Ecotone”, showing speciation due to India’s geological isolation and later collision with Eurasia.

Key Features:

Highest Peak: Anamudi (Kerala) — 2,695 m (8,842 ft); other notable peaks include Doda Betta (Nilgiris) and Mahabaleshwar Plateau (Maharashtra).
Major Rivers: Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, forming peninsular India’s main watershed.
Topography:
- Western slopes rise sharply from the Arabian Sea.
- Eastern slopes gently descend toward the Deccan Plateau.
- Creates a rain-shadow effect → lush tropical evergreen forests in the west and dry deciduous forests in the east.

Flora:

Hosts over 7,400 plant species, many of which are endemic.
Contains some of the world’s best non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests.

Fauna:

Home to 325 globally threatened species.
Supports about 30% of the world’s Asian elephants and 17% of the global tiger population (Panthera tigris).

Conclusion:

The Western Ghats are a critical ecological treasure of India, vital for biodiversity, freshwater resources, and climatic regulation.
However, human-induced pressures and climate threats place it in significant concern, requiring urgent conservation actions to maintain ecological balance and global significance.