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