Saving the Western Ghats | Part 2 | In Focus Podcast
This article previews the second part of a podcast focusing on the ecological threats to India's Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. It discusses the ongoing opposition, particularly from the Karnataka government, to proposed conservation measures like the Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) notification and the Kasturirangan report.
Why it matters
The Western Ghats are vital for India's biodiversity and ecosystem services, making the conflict between conservation efforts and local/state interests critical. This debate has significant implications for environmental protection, regional development, and political governance in India.
The Western Ghats in India is a mountain range that is considered next only to the Himalayas in terms of being a biological treasure trove with a high degree of endemism and scenic beauty. It has also been declared as one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity. However, in recent times, it has been in the news for threats to its unique ecosystem, especially with every episode of an ecological disaster.
Yet, every attempt that has proposed to address these problems - be it the Gadgil committee report or the Kasturirangan report - has met with opposition. The latest in this list is the draft notification issued by the Centre proposing the Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) that would cover a 20,668 square kilometre area spread across 1,449 villages in Karnataka, which has been vehemently opposed by the Karnataka government.
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