Overview
The Western Ghats stretch across six coastal states and host 39 biodiversity hotspots. To safeguard this natural heritage, the WGEEP was set up in 2010 under the chairmanship of Madhav Gadgil. Its report proposed declaring 142 talukas in 44 districts as an ESA, split into three zones.
Policy Journey
- 2012: Strong opposition from state governments led the centre to form a high‑level working group headed by Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan. The group trimmed the protected area to 37% of the range.
- 2014: MoEF&CC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) issued the first draft ESA notification.
- 2022: An expert panel led by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar was constituted to address state concerns.
- 2024: Draft notification includes a clause for a “phased rollout” or state‑wise finalisation.
- July 2026: After five draft notifications (2015‑2026) failed to achieve consensus, the ministry extended the expert panel’s tenure by one year.
Important Facts
- Karnataka has 10 districts in the Western Ghats, covering 20,668 sq km and housing 23.4% of the state’s population.
- Local communities fear eviction, loss of minor forest produce rights, and mis‑identification of plantation crops as forest in satellite‑based ESA maps.
- Indigenous peoples, who practice sustainable forest stewardship, are often left out of the decision‑making process.
- Any ESA declaration must be notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to gain legal force.
Exam Relevance
The ESA debate touches upon multiple GS papers. Understanding the legal framework of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 is essential for GS‑3 (Environment). The role of expert committees like WGEEP and the political dynamics between centre and states are relevant for GS‑2 (Polity). The inclusion of indigenous communities raises ethical and governance questions for GS‑4 (Ethics). Finally, the biodiversity value of the Western Ghats is a classic case study for GS‑1 (Geography, Environment).
Way Forward
For a balanced ESA notification, the government should:
- Conduct ground‑level surveys with community participation to complement satellite data.
- Form joint centre‑state committees that include indigenous communities and local NGOs.
- Design rehabilitation and livelihood‑enhancement packages that respect existing forest rights.
- Phase the rollout, allowing states that have reached consensus (e.g., Gujarat, Goa) to implement ESA while continuing dialogue with Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and others.
Such an approach can protect the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats without alienating the people who depend on it.