The Western Ghats

31.10.2025

1. The Western Ghats

Overview

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Hills, are a north-south mountain range along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau in India. Stretching approximately 1,600 km from the Tapti River in Gujarat to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, they traverse six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, covering around 1,64,280 square kilometres. The range is interrupted only by the 30 km wide Palghat Gap near 11°N latitude.

Significance and Formation

• Formed during the breakup of Gondwanaland about 150 million years ago, the Western Ghats predate the Himalayas and act as a critical geomorphic and climatic barrier, influencing India’s monsoon system.
• Recognized as one of the eight global biodiversity hotspots, the Ghats were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 due to their exceptional ecological and biological significance. They serve as an “Evolutionary Ecotone”, exhibiting speciation patterns arising from India’s geological history and continental collision with Eurasia.

Biodiversity and Ecology

• Home to over 7,400 plant species, including tropical evergreen forests, many endemic.
   
• Supports at least 325 globally threatened species, including 30% of Asian elephants and 17% of global tiger population (Panthera tigris).
   
• Source of major rivers such as the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, acting as a key peninsular watershed.
   
• Western slopes: steep, with lush evergreen forests.
   
• Eastern slopes: gentler, supporting dry deciduous forests.
   
• Creates a rain-shadow effect, shaping regional climate and ecology.
   

Current Conservation Status

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 report lists the Western Ghats as “significant concern” due to:

• Climate change impacts
   
• Unregulated tourism
   
• Habitat degradation
   
• Invasive species
   

Habitat loss from plantations, tourism waste, and infrastructure development threatens endemic flora and fauna. Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable.

Approximately 400 million people depend on the Ghats for livelihoods, making conservation essential for ecological balance, agriculture, and regional health.

Urgent Need for Conservation

The Western Ghats provide crucial ecosystem services, including:

• Climate regulation
   
• Water conservation
   
• Soil fertility, vital for agriculture and biodiversity
   

IUCN recommends intensified conservation aligned with global frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Framework. Current efforts include:

• Managing 39 protected areas in seven clusters
   
• Enhancing ecological connectivity through corridors
   
• Addressing human pressures via targeted management strategies
   

Conclusion

The Western Ghats represent immense ecological, geological, and cultural value. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and global biodiversity hotspot, urgent conservation is necessary to mitigate threats, sustain unique biodiversity, and maintain ecosystem services that support millions of people and India’s environmental health.