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Efforts For Conservation by Government Controversial Projects in Western Ghats

The Western Ghats mountain range runs along India's western coast, spanning 1600 km from Gujarat to Kanyakumari. It is the 8th most biodiverse hotspot in the world, containing over 5000 plant species and hundreds of animal species, many of which are endemic. In 2012, UNESCO designated 39 sites across the Western Ghats as World Heritage Sites, recognizing the region's unique ecosystems and role in moderating the local climate. However, some infrastructure projects like dams have faced opposition over their environmental impacts on the ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. Conservation efforts aim to protect the exceptional biodiversity while also developing the region sustainably.

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86 views3 pages

Efforts For Conservation by Government Controversial Projects in Western Ghats

The Western Ghats mountain range runs along India's western coast, spanning 1600 km from Gujarat to Kanyakumari. It is the 8th most biodiverse hotspot in the world, containing over 5000 plant species and hundreds of animal species, many of which are endemic. In 2012, UNESCO designated 39 sites across the Western Ghats as World Heritage Sites, recognizing the region's unique ecosystems and role in moderating the local climate. However, some infrastructure projects like dams have faced opposition over their environmental impacts on the ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. Conservation efforts aim to protect the exceptional biodiversity while also developing the region sustainably.

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Western Ghats also called Sahyadri constitute a mountain range along the western side of India.

It ranges from the borders of Gujarat and Maharashtra to Kanyakumari covering a distance of 1600 km. it is the 8th hottest bio diversity hot spot in the world. The world heritage status was conferred to Western Ghats by UNESCO in July 2012.Older than the Himalaya Mountains, the mountain chain of Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical ecological processes. The sites high montane forest eco-systems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern, moderating the tropical climate of the region. It also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. It has over 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species and 179 amphibian species; it is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. Atleast 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats. 39 sites in the Western Ghats have been designated as World heritage sites. It is spread over 7953 sq.km in the Western Ghats. These include Tiger reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserved Forests. Of these 20 are in Kerala, 10 in Karnataka, 5 and 4 in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra respectively. It has been selected based on the following criteria Criteria 9: The Western Ghats is an Evolutionary Ecotone illustrating Out of Africa and Out of Asia hypotheses on species variance and vicariance. Criteria 10: The Western Ghats contain exceptional levels of plant and animal diversity and endemicity for a continental area.

Efforts for Conservation by Government Controversial Projects in Western Ghats Karnatakas Governments Gundia Hydel Project in Hassan district was opposed because of its impact on flora, fauna and humans in that area as only electricity generation is proposed and no flood control or irrigation concerns have been expressed. In the Silent Valley National Park (Part of 39 declared heritage sites) Power Generator in between the forest was proposed. This was approved by the Karnataka State Government and High Court but, was dropped later due to opposition by the public Athirapally Hydel Project in Thrissur district in Kerala was opposed by environmental groups and the public on the grounds that it would damage the environment, infringe on human rights, threaten tourism and concern over the eventual extinction of the primitive tribal group, Kadars .

HIGHLIGHTS OF MADHAV GADGIL REPORT 1. the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) has designated the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and, assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to different regions of it. 2. WGEEP recommends that no new dams based on large scale storage be permitted in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1 as defined by the Panel. Since both the Athirappilly and Gundia hydel project sites fall in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1, these projects should not be accorded environmental clearance.

HIGHLIGHTS OF KASTURI RANGAN REPORT

OUR CONTRIBUTION We are conducting this seminar with the following objectives in mind To Explore the issue from various perspectives. To have a thorough Brainstorming of the issue. To build awareness about the issue and help in carrying the message forward to our policy makers.

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