The wealth of biodiversity these forests harbour remains largely unexplored. Many of the species found in the Western Ghats are endemic. The forests of the Western Ghats, listed as a global biodiversity hotspot, are disappearing under the combined assault of encroachment, industrialisation and timber-felling. These forests are vital to the subcontinent as they are the source of almost all our peninsular rivers. They also regulate the climate and rainfall of the south Indian peninsula.
The Central government, along with the governments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have mooted the proposal of a Sahyadri Biosphere Reserve. While this is a positive move, the status of a Biosphere Reserve does not have any legal provisions for protection of the biodiversity of the area. Several NGOs have suggested to the governments concerned that the area be declared as the Sahyadri Ecologically Sensitive Area (SESA) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. This move would be a continuation of the excellent precedent set by the declaration of the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani plateau and Pachmarhi as Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
The area that needs to be covered by the notification is the proposed Sahyadri Biosphere Reserve. This extends across approximately 8,500 sq. km. of forests in Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, and includes the Kali, Mahadei, Malaprabha, Tillari, Ghataprabha, Hiranyakeshi, Vedganga and Dudhganga river basins. This would incorporate, but not be limited to, parts of the Anshi National Park, Dandeli Sanctuary and the proposed Bhimgad Sanctuary in Karnataka, all the protected areas of Goa, and the Radhanagari Sanctuary in Maharashtra. A proposal to this effect has been forwarded to the Ministry by Belgaum-based NGO Parayavarani.
Significantly, the notification would not imply any displacement of people, or even land acquisition. The only restriction would be on polluting and environmentally-harmful industries. This is a relatively simple move that the Ministry can easily take to protect an area already threatened by bauxite mining in Radhanagari, quarrying in Khanapur, mining leases in and around Goa's protected areas and near Dandeli in Karnataka.
Hydroelectric projects also threaten to fragment these areas, through schemes such as the Dandeli Hydroelectric Project and the Bhandura and Kalsa dams on the Mahadei. Ecologically Sensitive status under the law would be a step forward. Protection of these contiguous forests will consolidate the future of the tiger in the northern part of the Western Ghats. Write in support of the declaration of the Sahyadri Ecologically Sensitive Area (SESA).
