Why has IUCN red-flagged the Western Ghats? | Explained

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The IUCN has red-flagged the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in its World Heritage Outlook 4 (2025) report due to “significant concern” over threats to its biodiversity and ecosystems. Other Indian sites under watch include Manas National Park (Assam) and Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal).

Analysis

1. Reasons for Concern
   • Hydropower Projects: Proposed projects like the Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project threaten rivers and habitats.
   • Tourism Pressure: Waste, human-wildlife conflict, and disturbance of natural habitats.
   • Plantations & Land Use Change: Replacement of native ecosystems with eucalyptus, acacia, and other exotic species.
   • Climate Change: Fauna shifting to higher altitudes; rising temperatures affect species distribution.
   • Other Threats: Roads, forest fires, illegal logging, encroachment, and invasive species.
2. Ecological Significance
   • Older than the Himalayas, the Western Ghats host high endemism and biological diversity, with 325 globally threatened species.
   • Key species: Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri flycatcher, black and orange flycatcher, among others.
3. IUCN Assessment Context
   • Out of 228 Asian World Heritage sites, only 57% now have a positive conservation outlook, down from 63% in previous assessments.
   • Top threats: Climate change, tourism, invasive species, roads/railways.
   • Emphasizes urgency for strong conservation measures and ecosystem management.
4. Global Perspective
   • Natural World Heritage sites occupy <1% of Earth’s surface but harbor >20% of mapped species richness.
   • Examples of well-protected sites include Mount Wuyi (China) and Sinharaja Forest Reserve (Sri Lanka), demonstrating community engagement and sustainable management.

Static / Background Information

Updated - October 24, 2025 04:01 pm | The Hindu