Restore fragmented forests to help them recover
A helping hand goes a long way, especially for fragmented and disturbed forests. According to a recent study published in Ecosphere, removing weeds and planting native trees in such patches…
Government suggests spring rejuvenation programme for water security
It is estimated that about nearly 200 million Indians, about 15 percent of the country’s population, depend upon spring water from the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Aravallis and other…
New frog species discovered in biodiversity-rich Western Ghats
One more new frog species has been spotted in the Western Ghats of India, reconfirming the region’s status as home to one of the richest assemblage of frogs in the…
Changing monsoonal rainfall patterns over the Western Ghats
Every summer, Indian farmers eagerly await the arrival of the southwest monsoon, which comprises up to 90 percent of the country’s annual rainfall. The Western Ghats (WG), a 1600-km mountain…
[Commentary] The vanishing forests of the river
It was around noon when I crossed the mud path and entered the little strip of forest that led to the stream, gingerly picking my way down through the vegetation.…
Switching to LPG for habitat recovery and wildlife conservation
With an aim to reduce the pressure of firewood extraction in forest habitats, conservationists are encouraging forest-dwelling communities in the Cauvery and Malai Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuaries in Karnataka to…
Decline in forest fires in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve indicates management effectiveness
Since the development of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats in 1986 — the first such reserve to have been established in India — active measures have been…
A tiny new fish discovered in a secluded stream in the Western Ghats
The Kabini river originates in the Western Ghats of northern Kerala. Cutting through the Ghats, it flows eastwards to join the Cauvery river in the neighbouring state of Karnataka. During…
Climate change could threaten the habitat of the endangered Nilgiri tahr
The Western Ghats, a stretch of mountains running parallel to the western Indian coast, is a biodiversity hotspot, home to countless species that are unique to the region — known…
Roads reduce conservation effectiveness of protected areas in the Western Ghats
When rich forests in biodiversity hotspots are carved out as protected areas it is presumed that the notification will help conserve them. But high human density, road building and other construction…
