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Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, Western Ghats Protector, Dies
8 Jan
Summary
- Veteran ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away at 83 in Pune.
- His 2011 Gadgil Report warned of environmental disasters in Western Ghats.
- Gadgil was honored as a UNEP 'Champion of the Earth' for 2024.
Veteran ecologist Madhav Gadgil, aged 83, passed away on Wednesday night in Pune after a brief illness. Gadgil was a pivotal figure in Indian environmentalism, widely recognized for his foundational research on the Western Ghats and his advocacy for community-based conservation efforts.
His seminal 2011 "Gadgil Report" identified the Western Ghats as an ecologically fragile region threatened by development and climate change, recommending that 75% of its area be declared environmentally sensitive. These recommendations, however, have yet to be fully implemented, despite their prescient warnings about potential disasters.
Gadgil, a recipient of the UN Environment Programme's 'Champions of the Earth' award in 2024, dedicated his six-decade career to bridging science and public interest. His work influenced policy, protected marginalized communities, and promoted ecosystem conservation across India.
