A cluster of 39 sites spread over 7,953.15 sq km in the Western Ghats will now be inscribed on the World Heritage list. Unesco status will usher in international attention on the Western Ghats, which can open more fund sources and boost research, say experts in Tamil Nadu

The Western Ghats, one of oldest mountain ranges and also considered one of the very few international biodiversity hotspots in the world, has now been accorded a Unesco Natural Heritage site.

For this region that is endemic to several species of fauna and flora, the Unesco recognition is definitely a boost, claim academicians.

Scientists have always been fascinated by this region and have plunged to these dense forests for an in-depth study of isolated regions for decades now.

“The Unesco status will now increase international attention on the Western Ghats which could open more fund sources that will aid researches conduct more detailed studies and throw more insight into mystery of the Western Ghats,” says Dr Narasimhan, senior professor of plant biology and an expert in plant taxonomy at the Madras Christian College in Chennai.

Academicians and researchers feel that while there might not be any short-term changes in the government’s approach to Western Ghats following this status rise, in the long run the region would benefit from the international attention and help in conservation activities in a more meaningful manner.

Western Ghats is the source for dozens of perennial and non-perennial rivers and is considered the main water catchment area for most of South India. Experts have been at loggerheads over whether the rainforests in this region have a positive effect on the southwest monsoon that enters the country through these mountains and provide rainfall.

These mountain ranges commence all the way up in the borders of Gujarat and Maharashtra and spread up to the southernmost tip of the country at Kanyakumari.

This region is home to over 5,000 species of flowering plants, 130 mammal species, 500 bird species and around 200 amphibian species. Biologists believe that this eco haven might be home to many more species which have not yet been documented and studied thoroughly.

“We hope that the Unesco heritage site status will help researchers in unveiling the hidden secrets of the Western Ghats and shift the international focus of nature lovers from across the state,” said another researcher based in Coimbatore.

Land of Nilgiri Tahr bags world heritage status

Decades of conservation efforts paid rich dividends for the Mukurthi national park (MNP), near here, popularly called ‘Nilgiri tahr sanctuary’, with Unesco conferring the world heritage site status on it. It becomes one of the 39 sites in the Western Ghats which is a world heritage site now.

Saying that it is a fitting reward for conservation efforts in the Nilgiris, Mr A. Ameer Haza, the deputy director of MNP, said it is not an exaggeration to describe MNP as a paradise on earth and it is generally described as a land of unseen wilderness with hypnotic natural beauty.

Stating that the 78.46 sq km area of MNP, located at an elevation ranging from 1,500 mt to 2,629 mt above sea level, is the place where the Nilgiris is still present in its original glory, Mr Haza said it is also the abode for a variety of fauna and flora including quite a few species of orchids and the Nilgiri tahr, the state animal of Tamil Nadu, an endangered animal species that thrives in good numbers in MNP.

The conservation efforts of the government and forest department have been proved by MNP being conferred the word heritage site tag, Mr Haza said, and added that restricted tourism, constant patrolling and anti-poaching endeavours are adding to MNP being conserved in the best possible way with nature at its elemental best.

Welcoming the heritage site tag for the Mukurthi national park, Mr K. Vijay, the secretary of the Nilgiris wildlife and environment association, said that the forest officials deserve kudos for their relentless conservation efforts that has now made the entire Nilgiris district proud.

Fragmentation of forest cover goes unchecked

Even as the Western Ghats made it to the coveted list of World Heritage site, environmentalists lament that all is not well with the pristine forest cover that runs from the border of Gujarat to Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

“We welcome Western Ghats finding a place on Unesco list, but the common man should be educated on the pristine biodiversity resource of Western Ghats and its significance”, says Mr M. Ananda Kumar, scientist, Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF). “If there is no rain in Western Ghats, farmers of entire south India will face water shortage and irrigation will be badly affected,” reiterates Mr Kumar.

“The heritage site status will help government and environmentalists to enhance the conservation work. The status should be a boon and not a bane and the public should know the significance of tiger reserves present along the ghat section and a balanced view is always required in forest protection,” he adds.

“The entire Western Ghat biosphere was awaiting this status for years and it is certainly a positive news. But the irony is that fragmentation of forest cover along the Western Ghats goes unchecked due to growing industrialisation and mining. Even the buffer zones of project tiger areas are not spared,” rues Mr K. V. R. K. Thirunaranan, founder, The Nature Trust.

“We have risen to the challenge of protecting biodiversity rich areas,” renowned conservationist Vivek Menon, who was part of the Indian delegation at the world heritage committee meeting, wrote in his website and expressed joy over the announcement related to the largest possible conservation area in South India.

Efforts to get reactions from the minister of state for environment and forests Jayanthi Natarajan proved futile.