THE United Nations on Tuesday recognised ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the annual Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, for his seminal work in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. Gadgil, the only Indian on the list of this year’s award recipients, chaired the Government-constituted Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel to study the impact of population pressure, climate change, and development activities on the ecologically fragile region in India.

 

The panel recommended in 2011 that the entire hill range be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and divided into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, 2, and 3) based on their environmental sensitivity. It also recommended a ban on mining, quarrying, new thermal power plants, hydropower projects, and large-scale wind energy projects in ESZ 1. However, these recommendations faced opposition from state governments, industries, and local communities. In an interview with PTI, Gadgil said he was happy that he stood up for what’s right. “There are not many who would write the kind of very honest reports, including official reports like the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which provide very concrete facts and bring out a clear picture. It is available for people to look at, understand the issues, and engage in at least some good, honest discussion,” the 82-year-old nature scientist said.