{"id":31823,"date":"2024-11-07T18:08:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T12:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=31823"},"modified":"2024-11-07T18:08:39","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T12:38:39","slug":"eco-sensitive-areas-esa-in-the-western-ghats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/07-11-2024\/eco-sensitive-areas-esa-in-the-western-ghats","title":{"rendered":"Eco-sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Biodiversity and Conservation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Union Government issued the sixth draft notification designating approximately 56,825.7 square kilometers of the <strong>Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)<\/strong> spanning <strong>six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d1dee7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d1dee7;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"335\" height=\"249\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/11\/area-jpg.webp\" alt=\"area\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-31825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/11\/area-jpg.webp 335w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/11\/area-300x223.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The notification aims to <strong>protect the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats<\/strong> by imposing restrictions on activities such as mining, quarrying, and large-scale construction within the ESA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It had provided the states a <strong>60-day window<\/strong> seeking their views and objections on the <strong>villages demarcated as ESA.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In 2002<\/strong>, it was decided that an area around each Protected Areas, requires to be notified as an Eco-Sensitive Zone for <strong>creating a buffer <\/strong>as further protection around Protected Areas (PAs).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The very purpose of declaring ESZ is to create some kind of<strong> \u201cShock Absorber\u201d<\/strong> for the specialized Ecosystem, such as protected areas or other natural sites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA)<\/strong> have unique biological resources, which require special attention for their conservation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These areas often contain rare or endangered species, critical habitats, unique ecosystems, or vital natural resources that are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On the basis of proposals and recommendations of the State Government, the Ministry notified the ESZs under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need to Declare Western Ghats as ESAs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The entire Western Ghats is the <strong>second most landslide-prone region<\/strong> of the country after the Himalayas.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Absence of ESA cover to Western Ghats<\/strong> resulted in <strong>continuation of several environmentally-hazardous human activities,<\/strong> including massive deforestation for mining and construction over the years, leading to loosening of soil and affecting hillside stability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biodiversity: <\/strong>The Western Ghats are considered one of the<strong> 8 &#8220;hottest hotspots&#8221;<\/strong> of biological diversity in the world.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Covering an area just under<strong> 6%<\/strong> of India, the Western Ghats contain more than <strong>30% <\/strong>of all plant, fish, herpeto-fauna, bird, and mammal species found in India.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Many species are endemic,<\/strong> such as the Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) and the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>50% of India\u2019s amphibians and 67% of fish species are endemic to this region.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Western Ghats perform important <strong>hydrological and watershed functions.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Approximately 245 million people live in the peninsular Indian states that receive most of their water supply from rivers originating in the Western Ghats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conservation: <\/strong>In 2012, the Western Ghats were inscribed as a <strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site <\/strong>due to their exceptional biodiversity and ecological value.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Several areas of the Western Ghats are designated as protected areas, including national parks and wildlife sanctuaries like Silent Valley National Park, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Agasthyakoodam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>State\u2019s Reaction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Chief Ministers argued that the proposed conservation schemes were <strong>too restrictive to allow any development work<\/strong> in the hills that run parallel to the western coast.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maharashtra and Goa<\/strong> sought a reduction in the extent of ESA within the respective states for allowing development works.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The then govt in <strong>Karnataka <\/strong>urged the Centre in 2022 to withdraw the draft arguing that it would <strong>adversely affect the livelihood<\/strong> of the people in the state.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The illegal mining lobby and tourism industry put pressure on the government to delay the notification.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"cfcbc9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"417\" height=\"235\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/11\/prohibited-regulated-activities-once-final-esa-notification-is-in-place-jpg.webp\" alt=\"prohibited-regulated-activities-once-final-esa-notification-is-in-place\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-31824\" style=\"--dominant-color: #cfcbc9; width:465px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/11\/prohibited-regulated-activities-once-final-esa-notification-is-in-place-jpg.webp 417w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/11\/prohibited-regulated-activities-once-final-esa-notification-is-in-place-300x169.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recommendations of Committees on Western Ghats<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gadgil Report (2011)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recommended declaring the <strong>entire Western Ghats as an ESA.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong focus on<strong> restricting developmental activities <\/strong>across the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Three-tier categorization of the region: <\/strong>It created three categories of protection regimes and listed activities that would be allowed in each based on the level of ecological richness and land use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Emphasized forest rights and sustainable livelihoods.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The report recommended the creation of a W<strong>estern Ghats Ecological Authority (WGEA) <\/strong>at both the national and state levels to monitor and enforce conservation efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmentalists supported, but state governments and industries strongly opposed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kasturirangan Report (High-Level Working Group Report, 2013)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recommended declaring only <strong>37% of the region as an ESA.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focused on regulating development in identified sensitive areas while allowing more flexibility in other regions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focused on core ecologically sensitive areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focused more on development balance and economic activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recognized the importance of sustainable livelihoods, but with less emphasis on forest rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Argued for <strong>strengthening the existing framework<\/strong> of environmental clearances and setting up of a <strong>state-of-the-art monitoring agency.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>State governments and industries found it more balanced, though some environmentalists felt it was too lenient.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Western Ghats are inhabited even in the areas categorised as natural landscapes.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is not possible to plan for Western Ghats only as a fenced-in wilderness zone.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is the difference between the natural landscapes of a densely populated country like India and the wilderness zones of many other countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Policymakers have to create a fine balance and promote a development that is sustainable in the cultural and natural landscapes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/western-ghats-expert-panel-goa-demands-on-eco-sensitive-area-demarcation-9650199\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Union Government issued the sixth draft notification designating approximately 56,825.7 square kilometers of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) spanning six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31823"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31826,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31823\/revisions\/31826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}