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:
- Species Richness: The Western Ghats is home to an incredibly diverse array of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. The region harbors a significant proportion of India’s biodiversity, with numerous species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants.
- Endemism: The Western Ghats has a high level of endemism, with many species evolved in isolation within the region due to its unique geological history and isolation from other mountain ranges. It is estimated that over 30% of the plant species in the Western Ghats are endemic.
- Habitat Diversity: The Western Ghats encompass a wide range of habitats, including tropical and subtropical moist forests, montane rainforests, grasslands, sholas (tropical montane cloud forests), wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems. This diverse array of habitats supports a rich variety of life forms adapted to different environmental conditions.
- Ecosystem Services: The biodiversity of the Western Ghats provides crucial ecosystem services such as water regulation, soil fertility, pollination, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation. The region’s forests act as vital watersheds, supplying water to numerous rivers, which in turn support agriculture, industry, and human settlements downstream.
- Conservation Importance: Recognizing its ecological significance, the Western Ghats has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity by Conservation International. Efforts are underway to conserve and protect the region’s biodiversity through various conservation initiatives, protected areas, and sustainable management practices.
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats are a continuous mountain range that is running parallel along India’s western coast. The mountain range started from Gujarat and ended in Tamil Nadu covering Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. The Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage site often called the Great Escarpment of India. They are one of the eight hotspots of biological diversity due to their high level of biodiversity.
Let us learn more about the Western Ghats in detail.
Table of Content
- Western Ghats – Overview
- Importance of the Western Ghats
- Flora and Fauna – Western Ghats
- Rivers – Western Ghats
- Passes – Western Ghats
- Threats – Western Ghats
- Conservation and Protection – Western Ghats
- UNESCO and Western Ghats
- Protected Areas – Western Ghats
- Medicinal Plants – Western Ghats
- Notable Places – Western Ghats