The United Nations on Tuesday honored ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the prestigious Champions of the Earth award, its highest environmental recognition, for his outstanding contributions to the conservation of the Western Ghats, a critical biodiversity hotspot.
Gadgil, the only Indian recipient this year, chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which studied the impact of population growth, climate change, and development on the region’s fragile ecosystem.
In 2011, the panel recommended declaring the entire Western Ghats an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and dividing it into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, 2, and 3) based on environmental vulnerability.
It also called for a ban on activities like mining, quarrying, and large-scale infrastructure projects in the most sensitive zones (ESZ 1). Despite strong opposition from state governments, industries, and local communities, Gadgil’s recommendations laid the groundwork for future conservation efforts.
In 2012, UNESCO recognized the Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site, and the following year, the Government established a High-Level Working Group in 2013, led by K. Kasturirangan, to develop sustainable development and protection measures for the region. This group identified 37% of the Western Ghats, covering nearly 60,000 square kilometers, as ecologically sensitive.
