Understanding the IUCN Warning for Western Ghats

GS PAPER III: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

WESTERN GHATS UNDER THREAT: WHY IUCN RAISED ALARM

Background

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its World Heritage Outlook 4 (2025), has classified India’s Western Ghats and two other national parks—Manas (Assam) and Sundarbans (West Bengal)—as sites of “significant concern.”

This represents a decline from earlier evaluations where these sites were rated as having “good” conservation prospects, underscoring a growing ecological crisis in South Asia.

1. Why the IUCN Issued a Warning

According to the IUCN’s 2025 assessment, the Western Ghats and other natural reserves face four major threats driving habitat degradation and biodiversity loss:

• Climate Change: Altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are forcing several species to move to higher altitudes, disrupting delicate ecosystems.
• Tourism Pressure: Unregulated tourism leads to waste generation, habitat disturbance, and excessive use of fragile ecosystems.
• Invasive Alien Species: Non-native plants like eucalyptus and acacia are displacing indigenous vegetation.
• Infrastructure Development: Expanding roads, mining, and urban projects are fragmenting forests and severing wildlife corridors.

For the first time, IUCN’s global analysis revealed that no Asian World Heritage Site received a “good” rating — a stark indicator of escalating environmental stress.

2. The Situation in the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is among the planet’s eight “hottest” biodiversity hotspots, hosting nearly 30% of India’s species of plants, birds, animals, and fish.

However, unchecked urbanisation, tourism, hydroelectric projects, and quarrying have led to rapid ecological degradation.

Examples include:

• Hydropower expansion such as the Sillahalla and River Kundah dam projects in Tamil Nadu.
• Shrinking forest patches threatening endemic birds like the Nilgiri Flycatcher and Black-and-Orange Flycatcher.
• Widespread replacement of native forests with commercial eucalyptus and acacia plantations.

3. The Sundarbans and Other Concern Areas

The Sundarbans, home to the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger, faces severe challenges due to rising sea levels, increasing salinity, and unsustainable resource extraction, which threaten both wildlife and local livelihoods.

Similarly, national parks like Kaziranga and Keoladeo are under stress from human encroachment and the spread of invasive plant species, earning them the same “significant concern” status.

4. Is There Any Hope?

Despite the grim outlook, the IUCN report identifies opportunities for ecological recovery through better management and local participation.

Recommended measures include:

• Strengthening community-based conservation and livelihood programmes.
• Implementing sustainable tourism and responsible hydropower planning.
• Eradicating invasive species and restoring native forests.
• Enhancing coordination between environmental and development agencies at national and local levels.

The IUCN calls the Western Ghats a “guide for action” — a reminder that India’s economic growth must align with long-term ecological security.

Synopsis (75 words)

The IUCN’s 2025 warning over the Western Ghats signals an urgent need to balance development and conservation. Threats from climate change, tourism, invasive species, and infrastructure projects are eroding one of the world’s richest biodiversity zones. With stronger community participation, ecological restoration, and policy alignment, India can still safeguard this natural treasure — a vital ecological shield for the subcontinent.