Ecologically Sensitive Areas for Western Ghats Conservation

Western Ghats Conservation and the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) Debate involves conservation vs livelihood. Read here to learn more about the concerns.

The Western Ghats, one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges stretching parallel to India’s western coast, is a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot.

Covering nearly 1,600 km across six Indian states, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, it supports an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna, regulates the Indian monsoon, and serves as the source of numerous perennial rivers.

The region contains 39 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and harbours thousands of endemic plant and animal species, making it one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in the world.

Western Ghats conservation

Despite its immense ecological importance, the Western Ghats are under increasing pressure from urbanisation, mining, quarrying, infrastructure development, plantation expansion, deforestation, and unregulated tourism.

To safeguard these fragile ecosystems, the Government of India has proposed notifying Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

However, the process has remained mired in controversy due to concerns over livelihoods, land rights, federal relations, and developmental aspirations.

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) extended the tenure of the Sanjay Kumar-led Expert Committee by one year to address the long-standing Centre-State deadlock over ESA notification, bringing the issue back into focus.

What are Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)?

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are environmentally fragile regions notified by the Central Government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, where certain developmental and industrial activities are regulated or prohibited to preserve ecological integrity.

The primary objective of declaring ESAs is to strike a balance between environmental conservation and sustainable development by preventing activities that may cause irreversible ecological damage while permitting environmentally compatible livelihood activities.

Unlike protected areas such as National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries, ESAs do not prohibit human habitation. Instead, they regulate environmentally harmful activities such as:

• Mining and quarrying
• Thermal power plants
• Large hydroelectric projects
• Red-category industries
• Major construction projects

At the same time, sustainable agriculture, plantations, eco-tourism, and traditional livelihood activities are generally permitted under regulated conditions.

Ecological Significance of the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are among the world’s eight “hottest” biodiversity hotspots and perform numerous ecological functions that are critical for India’s environmental security.

Rich Biodiversity

The region supports:

• Over 7,400 species of flowering plants
• More than 500 bird species
• Around 140 mammal species
• Hundreds of amphibians and reptiles

A significant proportion of these species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth.

Watershed of Peninsular India

The Western Ghats serve as the catchment area for major rivers, including:

• Godavari
• Krishna
• Cauvery
• Tungabhadra
• Periyar

These rivers provide drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower to millions of people.

Climate Regulation

• The mountain range intercepts the southwest monsoon, influencing rainfall patterns across peninsular India and supporting agriculture over vast regions.

Carbon Sink

• Its dense forests absorb large quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change mitigation.

Cultural and Economic Importance

Millions of people depend on the Western Ghats for:

• Agriculture
• Plantation crops
• Forest produce
• Tourism
• Hydroelectric power
• Fisheries

Evolution of the ESA Framework

Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel), 2010

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) was constituted under the chairmanship of Prof. Madhav Gadgil.

Major Recommendations

The Committee viewed the entire Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive and proposed dividing it into three categories:

• Ecologically Sensitive Zone I
• Ecologically Sensitive Zone II
• Ecologically Sensitive Zone III

The report recommended strict regulation of:

• Mining
• Quarrying
• Thermal power projects
• Large infrastructure projects
• Polluting industries

The committee also advocated decentralised environmental governance through local bodies.

Criticism

Several states and local communities opposed the report because they believed it:

• Was excessively restrictive.
• Threatened livelihoods.
• Ignored developmental needs.
• Could hamper infrastructure expansion.

Kasturirangan Committee (High-Level Working Group), 2012

To address widespread opposition, the Government constituted another committee headed by Dr K. Kasturirangan.

Recommendations

The committee adopted a more balanced approach.

Instead of protecting the entire Western Ghats, it recommended:

• Protecting only natural landscapes
• Excluding plantations
• Excluding agricultural lands
• Excluding human settlements

The ESA area was reduced to approximately 56,800 square kilometres, constituting nearly 37% of the Western Ghats.

This report attempted to reconcile conservation objectives with developmental aspirations.

Draft Notifications (2014-2026)

Between 2015 and 2026, the Government issued five draft notifications for the ESA declaration.

However, none could be finalised because several states raised objections regarding:

• Village boundaries
• Mapping accuracy
• Land ownership
• Plantation areas
• Developmental restrictions

Consequently, implementation remained stalled.

Sanjay Kumar Committee

In 2022, the MoEF&CC constituted a committee headed by Sanjay Kumar to address state-specific concerns.

The committee has engaged in consultations with all six Western Ghats states.

Current Status

• Gujarat and Goa have largely agreed with the proposals.
• Maharashtra has requested fresh reviews.
• Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu continue discussions over unresolved issues.

The committee’s tenure has now been extended by one year to facilitate consensus.

Major Concerns Raised by States

1. Impact on Livelihoods

States argue that ESA restrictions may adversely affect:

• Farmers
• Plantation owners
• Small businesses
• Rural infrastructure
• Housing projects

Karnataka’s Concerns

Karnataka has the largest extent of the Western Ghats.

Nearly 23.4% of its population lives within these districts.

The state fears that ESA regulations may hinder:

• Agriculture
• Coffee plantations
• Road construction
• Educational institutions
• Hospitals

2. Satellite Mapping Issues

Many states argue that ESA boundaries have been prepared using satellite imagery.

However, remote sensing often cannot distinguish between:

• Natural forests
• Coffee plantations
• Rubber plantations
• Arecanut plantations

This may wrongly classify productive agricultural land as ecologically sensitive.

3. Lack of Ground Verification

Communities contend that experts relied primarily on desktop studies without physically visiting villages.

They demand comprehensive field verification before finalising ESA boundaries.

4. Fear of Eviction

Many residents believe ESA notification will result in:

• Forced displacement
• Loss of land rights
• Restrictions on cultivation
• Denial of access to forest resources

Although the Government has clarified that ESAs regulate activities rather than displace people, these misconceptions continue to generate resistance.

Challenges in Conserving the Western Ghats

Balancing Conservation and Development

• Protecting biodiversity while ensuring livelihood security remains the biggest challenge.

Administrative Fragmentation

• The Western Ghats extend across six states.
• However, environmental governance differs across state boundaries, making coordinated conservation difficult.

Indigenous Rights

• Many tribal and forest-dwelling communities have traditionally conserved forests sustainably.
• Conservation policies must therefore recognise rights guaranteed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Illegal Commercial Activities

Delays in ESA notification have allowed continued:

• Quarrying
• Mining
• Deforestation
• Encroachments
• Unregulated tourism

These activities accelerate ecological degradation.

Climate Change

• Changing rainfall patterns, floods, landslides, and biodiversity loss have increased the vulnerability of the Western Ghats.
• The devastating floods witnessed in Kerala and Karnataka illustrate the ecological consequences of unplanned development.

Way Forward

Scientific Ground Verification

ESA demarcation should combine:

• Satellite imagery
• GIS mapping
• Physical field verification
• Local knowledge

This will improve public confidence.

Community Participation

Conservation efforts should actively involve:

• Gram Sabhas
• Tribal communities
• Local self-governments

Participatory conservation enhances both ecological sustainability and social acceptance.

State-wise Phased Implementation

Rather than adopting a uniform approach, ESA implementation should consider:

• Local ecological conditions
• Socio-economic realities
• State-specific priorities

Protect Livelihoods

The Government should clearly distinguish between:

Activities to be prohibited

• Mining
• Quarrying
• Red-category industries
• Large polluting projects

Activities to be permitted

• Sustainable agriculture
• Plantation crops
• Eco-tourism
• Organic farming
• Traditional livelihoods

Improve Public Communication

Extensive awareness campaigns in regional languages should clarify that the ESA notification:

• Does not imply eviction.
• Does not cancel land ownership.
• Does not prohibit normal agricultural practices.

Strengthen Cooperative Federalism

Successful conservation requires continuous dialogue between:

• Central Government
• State Governments
• Scientific institutions
• Local communities

Conclusion

The debate surrounding the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas highlights the complex challenge of balancing ecological conservation with economic development and human livelihoods.

While protecting one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots is essential for India’s environmental security, conservation measures must be grounded in scientific evidence, social justice, and cooperative federalism.

A sustainable solution lies not in imposing top-down restrictions but in adopting science-based mapping, community participation, phased implementation, and livelihood-sensitive regulations.

Such an approach will ensure that the Western Ghats continue to serve as India’s ecological lifeline while supporting the aspirations of the millions who depend upon them for their survival.