Western Ghats- Recent News

Western Ghats – Overview

The Western Ghats, known as the Sahyadri Hills, are known for their rich and unique flora and fauna. The range is called Sahyadri in northern Maharashtra and Sahya Parvatham in Kerala. The northern portion of the narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea is known as the Konkan Coast. The Central part is called Kanara and the southern portion is the Malabar region or coast. The foothill region east of the Ghats in Maharashtra is called Desh, while the eastern foothills of central Karnataka are known as Malanadu. The range is called Nilgiri Malai in Tamil Nadu....

Western Ghats- Recent News

Some latest updates on Western Ghats are as follows: Koyna region of Western Ghats is in news after National Geophysical Research Institute has reported that the region witnessed significant warming of 0.6 to 1 degree centigrade over last 100 years. Torrent frogs, which are also known as Dancing frogs are endemic in western ghats. New species of flies called Singanallur Tank have been registered. A new species of plant called Echinops sahyadricus have been discovered in northern Western Ghats....

Western Ghats as Biodiversity Hotspot

The Western Ghats, a mountain range along the western coast of India, is renowned as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots due to its exceptional richness and diversity of flora and fauna. Here are some key points highlighting why the Western Ghats is considered a biodiversity hotspot:...

Western Ghats is Also Known As

The Western Ghats are also known by various other names, including:...

Importance of the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas and are considered an evolutionary ecotone showing the “Out of Africa” and “Out of India” hypotheses. The Ghats also have a major influence on the ecological and biophysical processes of the Indian peninsula....

Flora and Fauna – Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are home to, various small carnivores like the Nilgiri marten, brown palm civet, stripe-necked mongoose, Indian brown mongoose, small Indian civet and leopard cat. The Nilgiri tahr and the lion-tailed macaque are also native to the Ghats. Dancing frogs called the Torrent Frogs are native to the Western Ghats. There are 24 species of these frogs found in the Western Ghats. Atleast 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats....

Rivers – Western Ghats

Two types of rivers flow through the Western Ghats, West flowing and East flowing. The following rivers are associated with the two categories:...

Passes – Western Ghats

A few passes can be found in the ghats. These passes connect cities and districts. Some of them are:...

Threats – Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are extremely important from several points of view. Despite this,, they face a few challenges that need to be addressed. The following are the threats faced by the Ghats:...

Western Ghats- Conservation and Protection

To protect the Western Ghats the following laws were made:...

UNESCO and Western Ghats

As per UNESCO, At least 325 globally threatened (IUCN Red Data list) species occur in the Western Ghats. 129 Vulnerable species, 145 Endangered, and 51 Critically Endangered. The list of a number of flora and fauna species that are globally threatened and are found in the Western Ghats is given below....

Protected Areas – Western Ghats

There are 2 biosphere reserves, 13 national parks, several wildlife sanctuaries and many Reserve Forests in the Western Ghats. The Nilgiri Biospehere Reserve forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats. It is comprised of the evergreen forests of Nagarhole, deciduous forests of Bandipur National Park and Nugu in Karnataka and adjoining regions of Wayanad and Mudumalai National Park in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is among the last tracts of virgin tropical evergreen forest in India....

List of National Parks in Western Ghats

National Park State Silent Valley National Park Kerala Eravikulam National Park Kerala Nagarhole Tiger Reserve Karnataka Chandoli National Park Maharashtra Mukurthi National Park Tamil Nadu Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Tamil Nadu Bandipur National Park Karnataka Vansda National Park Gujarat Aanamalai Tiger Reserve Tamil Nadu Periyar National Park Kerala Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary Karnataka Anshi National Park Karnataka...

Medicinal Plants – Western Ghats

The Western Ghats is very rich in its medicinal wealth. The forests and hills of this region have about 700 medicinal plants which are used for traditional and folk medicinal medicinal practices. Many plants are exploited commercially for their active enzyme and their commercial value. These plants represent various life forms ranging from lichen, algae, herbs, climber, shrubs, and trees. Medicinal plants are used at the household level to improve the health of the family members ane at the village level by medicine men or tribals. The most common plants like the Mimosa pudica, Hibiscus angulosus, Leucas aspera, Phyllanthus neruri, Calatropis gigantea, Tridax procumbens, Parthenium hysterophorus are all found to have cure for many major ailments like jaundice, asthma, piles, bronchial and blood disorders....

Notable Places – Western Ghats

The Western Ghats is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in India and it is also an incredibly accessible region of the country. People tend to visit certain tourist attractions in the western ghats for weekends or if they need a getaway. The following are a few places:...

Important Facts on Western Ghats

Here are some important facts about the Western Ghats:...

Conclusion

The Western Ghats is significant for its diversity and abundance of flora and fauna species. Apart from that the Ghats play an important role in affecting the climatic conditions of the surrounding areas. The regions surrounding the Ghats have a good source of water due to the rivers flowing through the Ghats. Despite being so important the Western Ghats face many challenges like illegal mining, livestock grazing, hunting, deforestation and climate change. The Government had made laws to protect these ghats and conserve them, for sustainability. There have been committees to keep a check on the Ghats. The Western Ghats are a World Heritage Site and need to be protected to sustain them for the future....

FAQs on Western Ghats

What are the 6 states of Western Ghats?...