Western Ghats' conservation has global significance, says Medha Patkar

KOCHI: The conservation of Western Ghats, one of the most sensitive biodiversity hotspots in the world, has global significance and the efforts in this respect shouldn't be restricted to a couple of states in India, observed green activist Medha Patkar.  "The protest should be taken at the international level," she said while launching the international campaign for conservation of Western Ghats on  the 30th anniversary of  'Save Western Ghats Movement' here on Saturday.

"There is not even a law to protect such an ecologically sensitive ghats and those who are supposed to conserve it are exploiting it. The Gadgil committee report which mooted the participation of grama sabhas in the conservation of the ghats has been shelved without any substantial reason," she said.

"Western Ghats can be conserved only through opposing the policies of the state and union governments. If the residents of Western Ghats oppose the destruction of forest areas, the existing biodiversity can be protected. Efforts to conserve Western Ghats will now be focused in Gujarat since massive environmental destruction is taking place in the state. Laws meant for environment and forest conservation are now being misused for big corporate groups," she added.

Ms. Patkar stressed the need for more women to come forward for the conservation of environment. Environmental experts from across the country, including Claude Alvares, Panduranga Hegde,  Dr. Vysali Patil, Kumar Kalanand, Dr. S. Sankar and Prof Kusumam Joseph also spoke. Dr. V.S. Vijayan  inaugurated a seminar on  'Western Ghats - biodiversity, climate change, development.' The 'Save Western Ghats March' held in 1987 and 1988  is considered as a landmark event in environmental activism in the country and has become the model for numerous similar campaigns.