Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Stretching majestically along India’s western coastline, the Western Ghats stand as one of the world’s most remarkable mountain ranges. Spanning 1,600 kilometers from the Tapti River in Maharashtra to Swamithoppe in Tamil Nadu, this ancient range is not just a geographical marvel but also a cradle of unparalleled biodiversity and cultural richness.
Recognised as one of the 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Western Ghats are a testament to nature’s abundance and resilience. Despite covering less than 6% of India’s land area, they harbour an astonishing 30% of the country’s plant, fish, amphibian, bird, and mammal species. This includes a significant number of endemic species found nowhere else on the earth, underscoring the global importance of this ecological treasure.
A BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
The unique isolation and diverse climates of the Western Ghats over millions of years have fostered an incredible variety of life forms. Among the 4,000 species of flowering plants thriving here, approximately 1,500 are endemic. This richness extends to wildlife, with numerous species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals intricately woven into the region’s ecosystems.
This biodiversity is not only of ecological importance but also supports countless human livelihoods and cultures. The forests provide essential ecosystem services such as water regulation, soil stabilization, and climate moderation, making them vital for the well-being of millions.
CULTURAL MOSAIC AND TRADITIONAL WISDOM
Beyond its natural wealth, the Western Ghats are a tapestry of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. Numerous social and religious groups have coexisted here for centuries, developing deep-rooted knowledge and sustainable practices intricately linked to the surrounding environment.
Sacred groves and landscapes dot the region, reflecting a profound reverence for nature and embodying traditional conservation methods long before modern environmentalism. These practices have played a crucial role in preserving the ecological balance and continue to offer valuable lessons in sustainable living.
THREATS IN THE ANTHROPOCENE
Despite their significance, the Western Ghats face mounting threats in the Anthropocene era—a period marked by significant human impact on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. Key challenges include:
Deforestation and Habitat Loss: Uncontrolled logging, expansion of agriculture, particularly monocrop plantations, growing tourism beyond the carrying capacity of the region, and urbanisation have led to extensive loss of forest cover, disrupting ecosystems and endangering species.
Mining and Quarrying: Mining and quarrying have caused severe environmental degradation, leading to soil erosion, water contamination, and landscape fragmentation.
Unsustainable Development: Infrastructure projects, including dams and highways, often proceed without adequate environmental assessments, exacerbating ecological imbalance.
Climate Change: Increased frequency of extreme climatic events, altered rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures intensify the vulnerability of the region, leading to disasters like floods and landslides.
Invasive Species and Pollution: Introduction of non-native species and pollution from industrial and agricultural sources threaten native biodiversity and ecosystem health.
INSIGHTS FROM THE WESTERN GHATS ECOLOGY EXPERT PANEL
In response to these escalating threats, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), led by esteemed ecologist Dr Madhav Gadgil, conducted a comprehensive assessment in 2011. The panel’s landmark report offered strategic recommendations to balance conservation and development.
Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs): The panel recommended classifying the entire WGs region as an ESA and further divided it into three categories based on ecological sensitivity: ESZ 1, ESZ 2, and ESZ 3. This categorisation would determine the level of development permitted in each zone. Ecologically sensitive regions (ESRs) are the ‘ecological units’ with the exceptional biotic and abiotic elements. Identification of ESRs considering spatially both ecological and social dimensions of environmental variables helps in ecological and conservation planning as per Biodiversity Act, 2002, Government of India.
Regulation of Developmental Activities: Recommendations included imposing stringent controls on mining, large-scale infrastructure, and other activities detrimental to the environment, especially in highly sensitive zones.
Promotion of Sustainable Livelihoods: Emphasizing eco-friendly economic activities such as organic farming, responsible tourism, and the sustainable harvest of non-timber forest products to support local communities while conserving natural resources.
Establishment of Governance Mechanisms: Suggesting the creation of a dedicated Western Ghats Ecology Authority to oversee conservation efforts, policy implementation, and conflict resolution between development and environmental priorities.
Community Participation: Highlighting the importance of involving local populations in decision-making processes, leveraging their traditional knowledge and fostering stewardship of natural resources.
CASE STUDY: WAYANAD’S VULNERABILITY & RESILIENCE
Image Courtesy: Pixabay
Wayanad district, nestled within the WGs, is particularly prone to landslides, especially during the monsoon season. The region’s hilly landscape, shaped by the eroded edges of the Deccan Plateau, is a geological remnant of the supercontinent Gondwana’s breakup. The district’s mountainous terrain, primarily composed of basalt rocks, formed during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods as India drifted away from Africa. In Wayanad, the landslide originated at the watershed of the Iruvazhinjippuzha River, which flows through the villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala in Vythiri taluk before merging with the Chaliyar River. This Chaliyar tributary begins at an altitude of around 2,000 meters, descending to 971 meters at Mundakkai in Wayanad district.
Meppadi, which is in Vythiri taluk consists of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages that bore the brunt of deadly landslides; heritage site acquires urgent attention by the governments, in the backdrop of the ongoing human interventions and impacts of climate change.
The Wayanad region of Kerala experienced torrential rains, accumulating 572 mm (57.2 cm) of rainfall in 48 hours — 200 mm (20 cm) of rainfall in the first 24 hours and a massive 372 mm (37.2 cm) in the next 24 hours prior to the landslide event. The study, released Meppadi is one of the 18 Ecologically Sensitive Localities (ESL) in Kerala identified by the WGEEP. The report of the WGEEP, often referred popularly as the Gadgil Report, forwarded clear restrictions and regulations, including for mining and quarrying and construction activities in ESZ-I and ESZ-II regions. While the second committee, headed by the famous space scientist K Kasturirangan, in 2013 suggested demarcating about 40 percent of Western Ghats area as ESA, and divided the WGs into Ecological and Cultural Landscapes. While final notification of the ESAs in the WGs is pending, considering the reports of all the states along the region, the conservation of the region and protection of this recently by the World Weather Attribution group, which examines the role of climate change in extreme weather, found that single-day monsoon downpours in Wayanad have become 10% heavier because of climate change. This incident was the third heaviest one-day rainfall on record, surpassing even the intense events of 1924 and 2019, though still less than the exceptionally heavy rainfall in 2018.
Wayanad is recognised as the most landslide-prone district of Kerala, attributed to its steep slopes, high elevation, persistent rainfall, and significant land-use changes. The urgent need now is to address the challenges posed by climate change through appropriate adaptation measures and to ensure the sustainable management of ecologically sensitive regions of the Western Ghats.
Wayanad, along with much of Kerala and the southern Western Ghats, experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. However, recent years have seen an increase in the intensity of this rainfall, a trend linked to climate change. The unusually high rainfall in Kerala may be attributed to cloudbursts caused by significant water accumulation over the southeastern Arabian Sea, just west of Kerala. These cloudbursts, which occur under specific ocean-atmospheric conditions, make large areas of the state especially vulnerable to flash floods and landslides during the monsoon season. Studies by Dr Abhilash and his team from the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) have highlighted this risk. Past landslides in Kerala, such as those in Kavalappara, Puthumala in Wayanad, Pettimudi in Idukki, and Koottickal in Kottayam district, have predominantly occurred during periods of extreme monsoon rainfall. The climate-induced formation of deep clouds over the southeastern Arabian Sea, resulting in frequent cloudbursts and intense rainfall, has become increasingly common in Kerala. This alarming trend emphasises the urgent need for regional-scale weather mapping, hazard awareness, and preparedness to effectively mitigate such natural disasters.
Image Courtesy: Drishti IAS
MEENANGADI: INDIA’S FIRST CARBON-NEUTRAL VILLAGE AND THE PATH TO SUSTAINABLE LIVING
In an inspiring example of environmental stewardship, Meenangadi, a small village in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India, has earned the distinction of being declared as the country’s first carbon-neutral village. This milestone reflects a growing global movement towards reducing carbon footprints and mitigating the effects of climate change. Carbon neutrality refers to the state where the net carbon dioxide emissions of a particular entity—be it a person, organisation, or community—are reduced to zero. This is achieved by balancing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with an equivalent amount of carbon savings through various means, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, or carbon offset projects like reforestation. In essence, carbon neutrality means that any carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is offset by actions that remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Meenangadi’s journey towards becoming carbon-neutral began in 2016 when the village, under the leadership of local governance and with the support of the Kerala State Government, embarked on an ambitious project to reduce its carbon footprint. The initiative was part of a broader effort to address the pressing challenges of climate change, which are particularly acute in ecologically sensitive regions like Wayanad.
The project involved a comprehensive approach that included:
Tree Planting Initiatives: One of the cornerstone activities was a large-scale afforestation and reforestation campaign. Trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it. In Meenangadi, thousands of trees were planted on both public and private lands, contributing significantly to carbon sequestration.
Sustainable Agriculture: The village promoted organic farming practices and reduced the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers were encouraged to adopt sustainable practices that not only protect the environment but also enhance soil fertility and crop yields.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Efforts were made to reduce energy consumption by promoting energy-efficient appliances and practices among the villagers. Additionally, the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, was encouraged to replace traditional, more polluting energy sources.
Waste Management: Effective waste management practices were implemented to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. This included better waste segregation, composting, and the promotion of biogas plants.
Awareness and Education: A critical component of the project was raising awareness among the residents of Meenangadi about the importance of reducing their carbon footprint. Educational programmes were conducted to inform the community about climate change and the steps they could take to contribute to carbon neutrality.
LESSONS AND THE PATH FORWARD
The conservation of the Western Ghats in the Anthropocene demands a holistic and collaborative approach. It is imperative that governments, local communities, scientists, and global stakeholders come together to safeguard this
irreplaceable ecological and cultural heritage.
The Wayanad landslides are a stark reminder of the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change.
As global temperatures rise, such events are likely to become more common, making it imperative for regions like Wayanad to adapt.
- Early Warning Systems: Investing in robust early warning systems for landslides can save lives. Real-time monitoring of rainfall, soil moisture, and slope stability can provide critical information to predict and warn of potential landslides, allowing for timely evacuations.
- Sustainable Land Use: Implementing strict regulations on land use, particularly in vulnerable areas, is crucial. Construction on steep slopes should be minimized, and where it is necessary, it should be done with proper eco-friendly engineering practices that consider the region’s susceptibility to landslides.
- Strengthening the people’s science movements: It is crucial for promoting climate adaptation and climate literacy at the grassroots. By empowering local communities with scientific knowledge and tools, people can better understand climate change impacts, develop localised adaptation strategies, and monitor environmental changes. Citizen scientists and volunteers (including school/college students) can collect valuable data on weather patterns, water resources, and biodiversity, contributing to early warning systems and informed decision-making. This bottom-up approach fosters ownership, resilience, and sustainable practices, enabling communities to cope with climate challenges effectively.
- Community Awareness and Preparedness: Educating local communities about the risks of landslides and the importance of sustainable practices is vital. Community-based disaster management programs can help ensure that people are aware of the signs of impending landslides and know how to respond. In a highly literate state like Kerala, local communities can be given training on various climate adaptation processes such as selection of climate resilient crops for agriculture, selection of suitable species for afforestation and climate mitigation and promotion of sustainable tourism practices.
- Infrastructure Resilience: Building resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events is essential. This includes not only buildings but also roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure that might be affected by landslides. Further, establishment of good quality hospitals may also help addressing the emergency needs.
- Reforestation and Ecosystem Restoration: Reforestation and the restoration of natural ecosystems are key strategies for reducing landslide risk. By restoring the natural vegetation, we can enhance the landscape’s ability to absorb and manage heavy rainfall, reducing the likelihood of landslides.
CONCLUSION
The Wayanad landslide serves as a sobering reminder of environmental degradation of the Western Ghats, and the need to implement proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable ESAs. Adaptation programs aimed at addressing environmental degradation in the Western Ghats should involve the collaborative creation of knowledge, engaging diverse stakeholders such as academic and research institutions, local and indigenous communities, and local citizen scientists.
*The writer is Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. He can be reached at bijupuzhayoram@gmail.com.
