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WESTERN GHATS-A WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE & BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT ON EARTH

Western Ghats is an array of mountain ranges lying in the west coast of India between river Tapti in north south and Though covering an area of 180,000 square kilometres, (just under 6% of the land area of India), the Western Ghats contain more than 30% of all plant, fish, herpeto-fauna, bird, and mammal species found in India. Western Ghats is one of the most sensitive ecological zones on earth and a biodiversity hot spot . It is the home for thousands of species of life form emerged, evolved and developed by the life crucibles where unique ecosystems served our biosphere. More over, this ancient mountain range supporting millions of people depends on its environment through ages. Compared to the land area it occupies, it holds 10 times the biodiversity of India. The endemism found in its flora and fauna explain the power of its ecosystems to create new life forms. New species are reporting almost in every month. The endemism found in mollusk, amphibians and reptiles shows its ancient existence. Certain life forms are here in its laps by millions of years.

GEOGRAPHY

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The Western Ghats is not True Mountain. According to geologist they are the faulted edge of Deccan plateau (The triangle land trapped between Western Ghats and eastern ghats). They are believed to be formed during Gondwana break up (about 150mya). As per the theories of advocates of continental drift the Ghats were separated from Madagascar , some 100mya. So they are much older than the Himalayas. Due to its global importance, the Western Ghats is called 'griddle of earth'.

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF WESTERN GHATS

Western ghats
The region has a spectacular assemblage of large mammals - around 30% of the world's Asian elephant (Elephas maximus ) population and 17% of the world's existing tigers (Panthera tigris) call this area their home. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 elephants can be found in the Nilgiri Hills, in the southwestern part of the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are one of the world's biodiversity hotspots with over 5,000 flowering plants, 139 mammals, 508 birds and 179 amphibian species. At least 325 globally threatened species occur here. At 2694m, Mt Anamudi in Kerala, India is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is estimated that there are four thousand species of flowering plants known from the Western Ghats and 1,500 (nearly 38 percent) of these are endemic. The Western Ghats supports a diverse fauna. Among the vertebrates, birds represent the largest number of known species (508 species), followed by fishes (218), reptiles (157),mammals (137), and amphibians (126). Many of these species are endemic to the Western Ghats region. The greatest number of endemics is found among the amphibians (78 percent) followed by reptiles (62 percent), fish (53 percent), mammals (12 percent),and birds (4 percent).

BIODIVERSITY

Western ghats
Champion and Seth recorded 20 forest types in Western Ghats. The forests of the Western Ghats are some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests in the world. The Western Ghats have evolved into one of the richest centers of endemism owing to their isolation from other moist areas. The highest levels of endemism are found in the evergreen forests. These forests occur within a 200-1,500-meter elevational range and 2,500- to 5,000-millimeter rainfall range. They vary widely along the length and breadth of the Western Ghats. The habitat types of the southern Western Ghats tropical evergreen forests also include the wet montane evergreen forests and shola-grassland complexes in the higher elevations (1,900-2,200 meters). The montane evergreen forests are diverse, multi-storied and rich in epiphytes, with a low canopy at 15 to 20 meters (Puri et al. 1989; Ganesh et al. 1996). More than half the tree species found in these forests are endemic.The remarkable biological richness and endemism of the Western Ghats region is inherent in its inclusion among the 34 global hotspots. The recent discovery of a new family of frogs, the first in the last 77 years, bears testimony to the uniqueness of the region, where many species of higher plants and vertebrates are still being discovered. Furthermore, the region is the center of diversity for some of the world's most economically significant plants such as mango, banana, black pepper, and nutmeg. This biodiversity is superimpossed by human diversity in the form of cultures, ethnicity, and traditional knowledge.

FLORA & FAUNA

Western ghats

It is estimated that there are four thousand species of flowering plants known from the Western Ghats and 1,500 (nearly 38 percent) of these are endemic (Nair and Daniel 1986). Approximately 63 percent of India's woody evergreen taxa are endemic to the Western Ghats (Johnsingh 2001). Of the nearly 650 tree species found in the Western Ghats, 352 (54 percent) are endemic (Daniels, 2001).The Western Ghats supports a diverse fauna. Among the vertebrates, birds represent the largest number of known species (508 species), followed by fishes (218), reptiles (157), mammals (137), and amphibians (126). Many of these species are endemic to the Western Ghats region. The greatest number of endemics is found among the amphibians (78 percent) followed by reptiles (62 percent), fish (53 percent), mammals (12 percent), and birds (4 percent). Protected Areas A total of 58 protected areas consisting of 14 National Parks (NP) and 44 Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS) fall within the boundaries of the Western Ghats. The total area covered by these protected areas is 13,595 square kilometres representing 9.06 percent of the Western Ghats. Although protected area planning and design have not been based on bio-geographic principles, the Western Ghats is one of two bio-geographic zones (the other being the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) with the highest level of coverage by protected areas (Rodgers & Panwar 1988)

PROTECTED AREA

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The varied biotypes of Western Ghats naturally present a rich and varied type of biodiversity. According to the changes in strata of flora (forest) the fauna also find their unique niches in biodiversity spectrum. A total of 58 protected areas consisting of 14 National Parks (NP) and 44 Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLS) fall within the boundaries of the Western Ghats. The total area covered by these protected areas is 13,595 square kilometres representing 9.06 percent of the Western Ghats. Although protected area planning and design have not been based on bio-geographic principles, the Western Ghats is one of two bio-geographic zones (the other being the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) with the highest level of coverage by protected areas.

WILDLIFE TOURISM

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Tourism, when managed in the absence of well thought-out plans and programmes, may spell doom to natural habitats. Apart from this, the cultural shock imparted the tourism on the local communities may put their very survival in danger. With a view to minimize the tourism impact on environment all tourism activities inside wildlife protected areas are under the control and management of Government. It is in this context that ecotourism is considered as a solution for tourism related environmental problems. Ecotourism primarily means marketing the serene natural habitats as tourism 'product' with an inherent element of nature education.

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OUR TOURISM POLICY

For ecotourism to be truly a form of environmentally conscious tourism and not just pursuit of remote pristine locations, it has to be sustainable with the continuous capacity to: - safeguard natural environment, the very basis of tourist attraction.- provide and maintain the quality of tourist experience and satisfaction, and - benefit the local people in the area. While choosing our wildlife and nature programe you are supporting the conservation status of local people and enhancing the well being of a global biodiversity hotspot.

WE LOVE IT WANT TO DO MORE

  • tripadvisoricon  We decovered Kerala over 2 weeks organized and accompanied by Benny.Our journey started with an overnight in Thattkad, then 2 days jungle trekking in the Chinnar Sanctuary, 2 nights in Munnar, then Kumarakom. :   kathe

    tripadvisoricon  I have been travelling with KGA tours for more than 10 years. We always use Mr Benny Kurian's company, and he has never failed to give us a wonderful experience. His knowledge of wildlife and plants is formidable. :    Frances Fedden

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