The Western Ghats Forum

• Introduction
• What is the Forum?
• Objectives
• Member Profile

The Western Ghats constitute one of the 25 global hotspots of biodiversity with an array of unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Furthermore the forests of the Western Ghats sustain many rivers that are the lifelines of peninsular India and thus provide valuable ecosystem services not only in the form of water but also in the form of soil retention, climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and as reservoirs of pollinators and natural predators of pests. It may be argued that the welfare of more than 200 million people in the western and the southern states of Maharastra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is inextricably linked with the forests of the Western Ghats.

Despite the ecological and economic importance of the forests of the Western Ghats these ecosystems have been subjected to great stress, and continue to face multiple threats. Deforestation and forest degradation in the Western Ghats continues unabated. Even the protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries face tremendous pressures from communities living inside and outside the forests. As our biological heritage fritters away, we find ourselves without coordinated efforts to conserve and manage our biological endowment. Organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, are involved in research, conservation and economic development activities in the six states over which the Western Ghats are spread. However, the opportunities for interaction among the various groups working in the Western Ghats are extremely limited. In particular, while a considerable amount of research work is done, it does not always get widely shared even among the researchers, far less reaches other stakeholders. There is little co-ordination and sharing of ideas and knowledge and even policy making frequently does not benefit from the results of such output. The objectives of the Western Ghats Forum is to fill the lacunae through national and regional meetings where various organizations and individuals working in the Western Ghats come together periodically and discuss, aspects relating to biodiversity, its use, threats to it and measures to conserve it.

The Western Ghats Forum (WGF) is a collaborative effort, uniting organizations and individuals committed to the conservation and health of the Western Ghats as a whole. The mission of the WGF is to provide an environment conducive for creative exchange and active cooperation between multiple stakeholders, with the ultimate purpose of facilitating the conservation of the Western Ghats.

The Forum would have participation from a cross section of stakeholders including policy makers, administrators, researchers, academics, government departments, NGOs and activists representing a wide variety of disciplines, both from the natural and the social sciences. This initiative is set to achieve valuable interaction between various stakeholders. This would facilitate sharing of information, ideas and resources on a single platform and could be used as an input to design conservation strategies and to improve policy framework for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The objectives are streamlined in its mission and aims to achieve the following

1. Promote the exchange of pertinent information and relevant research findings
2. Highlight gaps in the present research and policies, and determine priorities
3. Identify areas for cooperation and sharing of resources among those working in the area.

Steering Committee members of the Western Ghats Forum are

1. Dr. Kamaljit S. Bawa, Forum Co-Convener, President, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
2. Dr. Darshan Shankar, Forum Co-Convenor, Executive Director, Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)
3. Dr. Ranjit Daniels, Conference Coordinator, Director, Care Earth
4. Dr. Ashish Kothari, Member, Director, Kalpavriksh
5. Dr. R Sukumar, Member, Managing Trustee, Asia Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF)
6. Dr. Jyothi Sharma, Member, Director, Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)
7. Dr. V.S Vijayan, Member, Director, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
8. Dr. S. N Rai, Member, PCCF, Karnataka Forest Department
9. Dr. R. Uma Shaanker, Member, Associate Professor, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS)
10. Dr. K Ganeshaiah, Member, Professor, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS)
11. Dr. L. R Gopinath, Member, Fellow, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF)
12. Dr. Renee Borges, Member, Assistant Professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES)
13. Mr Ankur Patwardhan, Member, Research Co-ordinator, Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA)
14. Dr. Gladwin Joseph, Member Secretary, Director, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Institutional Members

1. Asia Nature Conservation Fund (ANCF)
2. Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
3. Care Earth
4. Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES)
5. Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)
6. Kalpavriksh
7. Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)
8. Karnataka Forest Department (KFD)
9. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (M.S.S.R.F)
10. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
11. Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA)
12. University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS)

General Members

1. Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development (CISED)
2. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)
3. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

View Member Profiles

1. Asia Network Conservation Fund (ANCF)
2. Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
3. Care Earth
4. Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES)
5. Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)
6. Kalpavriksh
7. Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI)
8. Karnataka Forest Department (KFD)
9. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (M.S.S.R.F)
10. Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
11. Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA)
12. University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS)
13. Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development