Experts highlight critical need of preserving Western Ghats

Forest, Environment and Ecology Principal Secretary Srinivasulu was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on 'Impact and Influence of the Western Ghats on Agriculture and Economy in Peninsular India' organised by Eco Watch at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad.

Dharwad: Stressing the ecological and scientific importance of the Western Ghats, Forest, Environment and Ecology Principal Secretary Srinivasulu said that although academicians and environmentalists often speak highly about the region, the common people living around it are yet to fully appreciate its value for the future of humanity.

He was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on 'Impact and Influence of the Western Ghats on Agriculture and Economy in Peninsular India' organised by Eco Watch at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad.

Srinivasulu noted that scientists played a crucial role in ushering in the Green Revolution. The transformation of tall wheat and rice varieties into dwarf high-yielding crops was made possible by connecting crop genes found in the Western Ghats with modern agricultural research, he said.

Referring to the contribution of biodiversity to healthcare, he said medicines used to treat diseases such as malaria have their roots in the flora of the Western Ghats. “Nearly 25% of modern medicines originate from the trees, bark, herbs and grasses found in the Western Ghats. Unfortunately, while the final pharmaceutical products are promoted widely, little attention is given to the natural resources that form their foundation,” he observed.

He stated that the Western Ghats have significantly contributed to the growth of biotechnology and genetic engineering. “Genes available in the wilderness cannot simply be recreated in laboratories. Therefore, the Western Ghats must remain an inseparable part of human life,” he added.

Agri patterns

Noted environmentalist Suresh Heblikar said lakhs of farmers are dependent on the southwest monsoon that travels from the Arabian Sea through the Western Ghats. He stressed the need to protect the Deccan Plateau and grasslands.

Expressing concern over changing agricultural patterns, Heblikar pointed out that sugarcane is increasingly being cultivated as a monocrop over large areas. “We must rethink whether there is a need to produce such huge quantities of sugar and ethanol,” he said.

Citing reports by the Indian Institute of Technology, he said landslides in the Western Ghats are increasing due to unscientific deforestation, hill cutting and steep slope alterations.

“All economic activities are connected to the Western Ghats in one way or another. The time has come to educate farmers about its rich biodiversity and its importance to agriculture. Soil nutrients and moisture are invaluable gifts of the Western Ghats,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor P L Patil, who presided over the programme, called upon forestry students to become 'warriors' in protecting the Western Ghats.

Describing the region as 'a laboratory for life,' he said the Western Ghats continue to serve as a vital hub for crop and weed scientists.