Intricate ecosystem of the western ghats has recently experienced a host of new discoveries namely a fish. In kerala psc exams facts about kerala is important that we should learn. For enm, 19 bioclimatic variables were downloaded from the wordclim database. Though covering an area of 180,000 square kilometres, or just under 6% of the land area of india, the western ghats contain more than 30% of all plant, fish, herpetofauna, bird, and mammal species found in india. Natural resource management in indias western ghats. The western ghats mountain chains along the west coast of the peninsular india har ours a wide range of ha itats and represents a glo al hotspot of diversity and endemicity myers et al. Community biodiversity management in central western. The western ghats again find a place in the news after the announcement of the.
Indias western ghats face biodiversity loss scidev. Their positioning makes the western ghats biologically rich and biogeographically unique a. The long western and eastern coastal belt with sandy beaches, forests and mangroves. The western ghats, also known as sahyadri benevolent mountains, are a mountain range that covers an area of 140,000 square kilometres 54,000 sq mi in a stretch of 1,600 kilometres 990 mi parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula, traversing the states of kerala, tamil nadu, karnataka, goa, maharashtra and gujarat. Along the southwestern coast of india lies the western ghats mountain range. About 30% of the area of the western ghats region is under forests. Why india must protect the western ghats from getting lost. The hill ranges of the western ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, extend along the west coast of india from the river tapti in the north to the southern tip of india. Tourism in forest areas of western ghatsjanuary 2011.
The distribution and magnitude of the biodiversity that. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two criteria. According to the latest fao report fao 2000, the annual rate of deforestation in the world during 19902000 was 9. It has four major forest types and 23 floristic types as well as the unique high altitude grasslands. Reptiles the western ghats has an impressive diversity of reptiles including one of the most dangerous snake of western ghats, a viper. There are many things that we need to cover, like kerala history, basic facts, like politics, cinema, geography, current affairs etc. Norman myers included the western ghats amongst the 25 biodiversity hotspots identified in the world the western ghats extend from the satpura range in the north, go south past goa, through karnataka and into kerala and tamil nadu end at kanyakumari embracing indian ocean. The western ghats of tamil nadu exhibits great plant diversity, due to immense variety of climate, altitude and edaphic factors. It is the northern half of the western ghats of india, which is a global biodiversity hotspot and.
A chain of mountains running parallel to indias western coast, approximately 3050 km inland, the ghats traverse the states of. Attachments 1 flowering plants of the western ghats, india. Western ghats biodiversity is a significant source of moisture for monsoon. Birds of western ghats, kokan and malabar including birds of goa fish the numerous rivers and streams that originate in the western ghats are home to a remarkable variety of fish. A unesco world heritage site and a biodiversity hotspot, the western ghats ecoregion is a storehouse of natural treasures found nowhere else in the world. The western ghats is biologically rich and biogeographically unique the western ghats is covering an area of 180,000 square kilometres. The biodiversity heritage library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community. Click download or read online button to get biodiversity in india book now. Spottings of pets, domesticated or caged animals and garden plants are not eligible for this mission. The diversity and distribution of aquatic insects observed in aghanashini river of central western ghats of india 24.
Western ghats biodiversity is a significant source of moisture for monsoon raghu murtugudde pune updated on may 04, 2018 published on may 04, 2018 a. In view of the environmental sensitivity and ecological significance of the western ghats region and the complex interstate nature of its geography, as well as possible impacts of climate change on this region, the ministry of environment and forests, government of india, constituted, by an order dated 4 march 2010, a western ghats ecology expert panel. Free and open access to indias biodiversity information. The life supporting and biodiversity rich ecosystems of western ghats are threatened today due to habitat pressures. The western ghats covers 6% of the land area of total indian land, the western ghats lies parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula. The western ghats, also known as the sahyadri hills, are well known for their rich and unique assemblage of flora and fauna. The distribution and magnitude of the biodiversity that exists today is a product of over 3. The status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in the western. Studies on rattans from india in general, and the western ghats biodiversity hotspot in particular. The wg also contain more than 30 percent of indias plant, fish, bird and mammal species. Indias western ghats is one of 25 biodiversity hot spots in the world and is home to the kudremukh national park, an area characterized by rich evergreen forest and significant populations of endangered species, including the liontailed macaque and tiger. The range covers 60,000km 2 and forms the catchment area for a complex of river systems that drain almost 40% of india. The western ghats is part of the western ghatssri lanka biodiversity hotspot.
The western ghats is one amongst the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Kerala general facts gk questions and answers download pdf. Download pdf download all download jpeg 2000 download text. Biodiversity of western ghats india please mention habitat and provide descriptions when filling in spotttings. Biodiversity losses around the world continue to mount despite considerable efforts to protect species and wildlands. Community biodiversity management in central western ghats, india 7 according to 2001 census, of the total population of. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. North western ghats, india applied environmental research foundation aerf. Western ghats biodiversity faces threat, says report. Western ghats biodiversity is a significant source of. This ebook has an entire chapter highlighting the importance of the western ghats as a biodiversity hotspot besides a chapter on butterfly gardening.
The portal aims to aggregate data through public participation and provide open and free access to biodiversity information. The western ghats are located in the western part of peninsular india. Though the western ghats have shrunk by 25% over the past two decades, the environment. Kannada and konkani is the major regional language spoken.
These ranges are known for their rich biodiversity and natural heritage. What is so controversial about madhav gadgil committee and kasturirangan committee reports. It has rich and unique assemblage of flora and fauna mi ttermeier et al. What is the location of the western ghats in india. Biodiversity in the western ghats of india shonil a. Western ghats volume 105, page 236 fig trees ficus, captive elephants, and conservation of hornbills and other frugivores in an indian wildlife sanctuary. Western ghats has been in news because of gadgil committee report controversy. The western ghats in maharashtra, karnataka and kerala. Biodiversity in india download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The western ghats are internationally recognized as a region of immense global importance for the conservation of biological diversity, besides containing areas of high geological, cultural and aesthetic values. The western ghats of india are, together with sri lanka, the eighth hottest. Ghat, a term used in the indian subcontinent, depending on the context could refer either to a range of steppedhills with valleys ghati in hindi, such as the eastern ghats and western ghats. The western ghats is a mountain range running parallel to peninsular indias western coast.
Why india must protect the western ghats from getting lost it could become a model for the entire country. The western ghats, a unesco world heritage site, is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to more than 4,000 flowering plants, about 500 bird species, and over 300 species of mammals and amphibians. Northern western ghats of india is popularly known as sahyadri. Gadgil report and kasturirangan report related with the western ghats is important for upsc prelims, mains and interview.
The western ghats is the home for about 50 million people belonging to the six states of the country. Watershed mapping and land cover classification in indias western ghats. The western ghats a global biodiversity hotspot 78% amphibians, 62% reptiles, 38% plants, 12% mammals endemic to the w. The role of informal protected areas in maintaining. Chec list endemic flowering plants of northern western ghats. Their positioning makes the western ghats biologically rich and biogeographically unique a veritable treasure house of biodiversity.
At least 325 globally threatened species occur here. Time is short, so please act immediately your appeal to the central government can help safeguard the western ghats. Western ghats is one of the top biodiversity hotspots of india. Like other biodiversity hotspots, the western ghats has a high proportion of endemic species. The western ghats are one among 36 global biodiversity hotspots and forests in this region sequester atmospheric carbon, which aid in moderating the global climate and. Biodiversity of the western ghats complex of karnataka.
Biodiversity in indias iconic western ghats is facing a threat from forest loss, encroachment and conversion, says a global environment agency in its report. General introduction biodiversity of western ghats india is recognized as one of the worlds 12 megabiodiversity nations. The ghats is well known for its biodiversity, where we can find a variety of flora and fauna. Assigning conservation value and identifying hotspots of endemic. Understand the details of hlwg report and wgeep report. Here are some of the kerala general facts that you should know about kerala.
I support the governments decision to declare 56,825 square kilometres of the western ghats as eco sensitive area see contents of the letter below the form. Although it is widely believed that an important function of protected areas is to conserve. They are more or less parallel to the western coast of india. The western ghats is a mega biodiversity region, with varied flora, fauna and landscapes. It is the source of water for the entire peninsular india, and also influences the monsoons. This study puts a finer point on the value of the western ghats biodiversity as a significant source of moisture for rainfall over parts of india that are constantly struggling for water for agriculture as well as domestic and industrial use. This study deals with diversity and distribution of aquatic insects from nine stations in the. Both the western ghats and sri lankas central highlands are particularly known for their amphibian diversity. It is made as a simple pdf so that any species can be searched using the search option. A total of 28 plants in the brahma database are found in western ghats. The western ghats are one of the worlds biodiversity hotspots with over 5,000 flowering plants, 9 mammals, 508 birds and 179 amphibian species. Flowering plants of the western ghats efloraofindia. Pdf the western ghats is a mega biodiversity region, with varied flora. The biodiversity hotspot of the western ghats, india.
Of these 21, 19 species are endemic to the western ghats and two are endemic to the. They lie at a distance of about 50 to 80 om the coast. The western ghats and sri lanka biodiversity hotspot, with its unique assemblages of plant and animal communities and endemic species, is globally important. Entire tract of hills from the tapi to kanyakumari is called western ghats. The western ghats are the mountain groups running parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula. The western ghats 40 the western ghats the western ghats also known as the sahayadaris, is one of the worlds ten hottest biodiversity hotspots.
1348 981 1474 1654 715 1045 1593 63 126 337 58 1428 1570 897 1429 199 324 400 298 40 1186 1319 481 296 1638 1675 1481 431 612 39 1294 931 606 1066 491 901 1119 1482