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Kerala's Ecosystems Face Collapse: Urgent Red List Action
14 Oct
Summary
- Kerala's tropical forests lost 83% of their habitat over a century.
- A new project assesses ecosystems for collapse risk statewide.
- Findings will guide state planning and local conservation efforts.
Tropical riparian evergreen forests in Kerala's Western Ghats have experienced an 83% decline in the last century, placing them at critical risk of collapse within two decades. This alarming trend, alongside threats to other vital habitats like myristica swamps and mangroves, has prompted the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) to launch a first-of-its-kind Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (RLE) project.
The year-long project, a collaboration between the Kerala Forest Research Institute and MES Asmabi College, systematically evaluates ecosystem collapse risks across all 14 districts. Researchers are examining natural habitats from mountain summits to coastal stretches to gather empirical evidence of environmental degradation.
The initiative seeks to transition conservation strategies from species-specific efforts to proactive, landscape-wide management. By adhering to IUCN criteria, the project will establish a baseline of historical loss and fragmentation, identifying key threats and governing factors for ecosystem collapse.
Findings will include an official Risk Register, an Ecosystem Typology Atlas, and ecorestoration priority maps. These will be integrated into state planning portals, empowering local Biodiversity Management Committees and panchayats with actionable spatial intelligence for nature-based climate adaptation and strengthened natural defenses.
