Outline the Government of India's strategies of conservation of the Western Ghats.

Early Conservation Efforts & Legislative Framework

Initial conservation efforts primarily focused on forest management under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. However, these were largely extractive and lacked a holistic ecological perspective. The turning point came with increased awareness of biodiversity loss and the need for a more comprehensive approach.

• Forest Conservation Act, 1980: This Act provided a legal framework for regulating the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, requiring prior approval from the Central Government.
• National Forest Policy, 1988: This policy emphasized the ecological importance of forests and advocated for a holistic approach to forest management, including conservation of biodiversity and watershed protection.

Institutional Mechanisms & Committees

Several committees and agencies have been established to oversee and coordinate conservation efforts in the Western Ghats.

• Gadgil Committee (1983-85): Officially known as the Committee on the Environmental Planning Coordination Committee (EPCC), it highlighted the ecological sensitivity of the Western Ghats and recommended a phased implementation of environmental regulations.
• Murugesan Committee (2010-11): This committee was formed to review the Gadgil Committee report and propose a more practical approach to conservation. It suggested categorizing the Western Ghats into different zones based on their ecological sensitivity.
• Kasturirangan Committee (2013): This high-level working group, constituted by the MoEFCC, proposed a revised approach to conservation, designating 37% of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). This report remains controversial due to concerns about its impact on local communities and development.
• Western Ghats Ecology Programme (WGEP): Launched in 1996, this programme is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the state governments of the Western Ghats region. It focuses on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and capacity building.

Conservation Projects & Schemes

The Government of India has launched several projects and schemes to promote conservation in the Western Ghats.

• Project Tiger (1973): While not exclusive to the Western Ghats, several tiger reserves within the region (e.g., Periyar, Anamalai, Sahyadri) benefit from this initiative, contributing to habitat protection and wildlife conservation.
• National Mission for Green India (NMG): This mission aims to increase forest cover and improve the quality of forests, contributing to carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation in the Western Ghats.
• Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): Implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, IWMP focuses on sustainable management of natural resources, including water, land, and forests, in watershed areas within the Western Ghats.
• National Bamboo Mission: Promotes the cultivation of bamboo in suitable areas of the Western Ghats, providing a sustainable alternative to timber and supporting local livelihoods.
• Eco-tourism initiatives: Several states have promoted eco-tourism in the Western Ghats, aiming to generate revenue for conservation and provide livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Challenges & Recent Developments

Despite these efforts, conservation of the Western Ghats faces several challenges.

• Development pressures: Infrastructure projects (e.g., highways, dams, mining) continue to pose a threat to the ecological integrity of the region.
• Human-wildlife conflict: Increasing human population and habitat fragmentation lead to increased conflict between humans and wildlife.
• Climate change: Changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures are impacting the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Western Ghats.
• Implementation gaps: Effective implementation of conservation policies and schemes remains a challenge due to lack of coordination, inadequate funding, and limited capacity.

Recently, there's been a push for a more decentralized and participatory approach to conservation, involving local communities in decision-making and benefit-sharing. The focus is also shifting towards landscape-level conservation, recognizing the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

Committee/Report	Key Recommendations	Status/Impact
Gadgil Committee	Phased implementation of environmental regulations, identification of Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs)	Report faced opposition from state governments and local communities.
Kasturirangan Committee	Designation of 37% of Western Ghats as ESA, revised zoning approach	Report remains controversial, implementation stalled due to concerns about impact on development and livelihoods.