The Western Ghats, a 1,600 km long mountain chain stretching across six Indian states, have been classified by the IUCN as a natural site of “significant concern.” These hills, older than the Himalayas, are globally vital — they regulate monsoon patterns, house multiple ecosystems (evergreen forests, shola grasslands, swamps), and are a hotspot of biodiversity. 

According to the IUCN’s World Heritage Outlook 4 (2025) report, the major threats jeopardising the Ghats include climate change, unregulated tourism, invasive species, and rapidly expanding road infrastructure. These pressures exacerbate habitat loss and fragmentation in a region already struggling to protect its endemic species.

About 325 species in the Western Ghats are listed as threatened (IUCN Red List), including the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, and other endemic flora and fauna. Despite legal protections, lack of strong implementation is a barrier. A draft Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification covering ~56,000 sq km has been proposed, but delay and local opposition risk derailing conservation efforts.