Abstract ID: 3.9417 | Reviewing | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Climate change together with land degradation is a threat to the biodiversity of the Western Ghats Mountain, one of the recognized global biodiversity hot spots in India that represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. Climate extremes, unsustainable use of resources, mining and unwise policies pose serious threat to the mountain and existence of many rare and costly medicinal plants and precious trees in the forests. Encroachment and introduction of plantation crops in the last century lead to the depletion of vast area of natural forests. Poachers have widely destroyed the precious trees such as sandal, rosewood and teak. Major hydropower projects submerged large areas of forests. Rainfall in the region is becoming more seasonal and intense, resulting in the erosion of the already degraded soil. Casualties associated with landslides have increased significantly. Long dry season and falling groundwater storage make seasonal plants extinct. Because of increasing thunderstorms, forest fire becomes common. Strong winds uproot big trees. Shift in regional climate may affect the biodiversity significantly. Changes in the mountain environment have large socio-economic impact such as shortage of reliable water because of sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs, falling food production, hiking price conflicts over allocation, and internal migration. Shortage of water and food leads to human animal conflicts and dozens of people die every year from wildlife attack. Rules and regulations to protect the mountain and forests become farce because of weak administration, corruption and vested political interference. Sustainable forest management may boost the current economic development and help alleviating poverty of the tribals. There are large areas of restorable degraded forests and afforestable wastelands. Community forest projects with the cooperation of local population could improve livelihood conditions of the poor. The mega schemes such as the ‘green India mission’ could be better implemented with their help. Present paper assesses the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on the Western Ghats and its forests. Current policies and strategies related to mountains, climate, forest and environment have been critically reviewed to suggest guidelines for adaptation and an appropriate national policy.