Context: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its 2025 World Heritage Outlook, has classified the Western Ghats as a natural World Heritage Site of “significant concern” due to increasing ecological pressures, fragmented governance, and climate-induced vulnerabilities.
About the Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, stretching for 1,600 km parallel to India’s western coast, are among the world’s oldest and most biologically diverse mountain systems. They span six states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Global Importance
- Recognised as one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots.
- One of India’s four biodiversity hotspots.
- Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) in 2012 for its exceptional ecological value.
Biodiversity Features
The region supports extraordinary species diversity and endemism, hosting many rare and threatened species such as:
- Nilgiri Tahr
- Lion-tailed Macaque
- Tiger
- Asian Elephant
It also contains unique ecosystems like shola forests, montane grasslands, and high-altitude swamps.
Major Threats Highlighted by the IUCN Outlook 2025
1. Climate Change
Increasing temperatures, altered monsoon cycles, and frequent extreme events (landslides, floods, droughts) are forcing sensitive species to migrate into shrinking habitats.
2. Landscape Fragmentation
Linear infrastructure — highways, railways, power corridors, and dams — breaks ecological connectivity and obstructs wildlife movement, increasing human-wildlife conflicts.
3. Monoculture Plantations
Large-scale conversion of native forests into tea, coffee, rubber, and areca plantations reduces biodiversity, weakens soil health, and diminishes natural resilience.
4. Invasive Species
Aggressive non-native trees such as acacia and eucalyptus outcompete indigenous flora, alter nutrient cycles, and disrupt natural ecosystem regeneration.
5. Tourism and Pilgrimage Pressure
Unregulated tourism increases waste generation, air and noise pollution, and disturbs fragile wildlife zones, especially in high-altitude sanctuaries.
6. Governance Gaps
Although the Ghats contain 39 protected areas across six states, jurisdictional overlaps complicate integrated management, leaving corridors poorly protected.
Government Initiatives to Protect the Western Ghats
1. Statutory Protection
- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
These govern diversion of forest land and protect wildlife habitats.
2. Protected Area Network
The region includes:
- 2 biosphere reserves (Nilgiri, Agasthyamalai)
- 13 national parks (e.g., Silent Valley, Periyar)
- Several wildlife sanctuaries
3. UNESCO World Heritage Obligations
The 2012 WHS recognition requires state-specific conservation and management plans.
4. ESA Proposals
Based on the Gadgil Committee (2011) and Kasturirangan Committee (2013), the government has proposed Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) to regulate mining, quarrying, construction, and thermal projects.
5. CAMPA Funding
Kerala and Tamil Nadu are using CAMPA resources for shola–grassland restoration, fire-line creation, and invasive species management.
Conclusion
The Western Ghats face increasing ecological and governance pressures. The IUCN’s “significant concern” classification signals the urgency for coordinated conservation, improved regulation, landscape-level planning, and community-based stewardship to safeguard one of India’s richest ecological treasures.