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Western Ghats: Biodiversity Hotspot Under Red Alert
18 Nov
Summary
- Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, faces significant concern from IUCN report.
- Climate change and unregulated tourism are major threats to the region.
- India has enacted laws but implementation remains a concern for conservation.
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site and global biodiversity hotspot, is facing significant threats, according to the IUCN's World Heritage Outlook 4 report. This ecologically vital mountain range, crucial for peninsular India's climate regulation, has been categorized as being of "significant concern" due to escalating environmental pressures.
The report highlights climate change as the foremost threat, exacerbated by unregulated tourism, invasive alien species, and burgeoning infrastructure development like road expansion. These factors collectively endanger the region's exceptional biodiversity, which includes numerous endemic species and threatened wildlife.
While India has established legal frameworks such as the Wildlife Protection Act and initiated expert committee reports, weak implementation remains a critical challenge. Addressing these issues requires coordinated action, participatory decision-making, and effective integration of climate adaptation and community-led conservation strategies.
