About the Conference
Eastern Ghats are discontinuous mountain ranges of India, one of the important physiographic units with great bio-geographic, environmental, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual significance, located along the eastern coastline of Indian Peninsular bordering Bay of Bengal. These mountain ranges extend from the deltaic parts of Mahanadi River in Orissa right down to Tamil Nadu in the south and also partially in Karnataka.
The E`astern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats but are older than the Western Ghats, and have a complex geologic history, related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent. One of the biggest characteristics of Eastern Ghats lie in its being extremely fertile. In fact, the Ghat is said to be the watershed of many rivers as the Ghat gets higher average waterfall. Due to higher rainfall, the fertile land results into better crops. Often referred as “Estuaries of India”, Eastern Ghats gift its inhabitant the popular profession of fisheries as its coastal area is full of fishing opportunity. Like Western Ghats, thus, Eastern Ghats also carry a heap of ecological importance.
Challenges faced by Eastern Ghats
Though there are ongoing committed efforts and institutional framework from governments, still the Population pressure, indiscriminate developmental plans, greed and apathy are exerting constant pressure on the unique bio-geosphere of the mountain ranges. Few broad areas of threats are as follows
• Large scale Deforestation due to illegal, clandestine logging, tree felling, Forest fires, Encroachment of forest lands for Agricultural expansion, Cattle grazing etc.
• Ecological degradation due to mining, roads, tourism etc.
• Biodiversity loss due to Game hunting, Poaching, deforestation, wild life trade, invasion of weedy alien species, cattle grazing, crop cultivation, human movement in the forest
• Privatization, commercialization of hills and industrialization in the vicinity
• The other socio ecological issues include Human Animal Conflict, Forest rights, ecosystems, livelihoods/development issues
• cultivation of Narcotic plants and illegal liquor, eucalyptus, commercial cropping in the forests
• Ruthless Plundering of all resources such as land, forests, wildlife, rocks and minerals, water resources etc.
The consequences
Large scale deforestation, degradation, resource plundering is taking place in the hills which is leading to multiple effects on this once pristine unique ecosystem complex. It is causing loss of biodiversity, threatening the survival of primitive tribes, erosion of soils, rock/cliff falls, erratic rainfalls in the region, depletion of water resources, dwindling forest produce threatens tribal’s livelihoods and nutrition. Mining, Indiscriminate resource extraction, Coffee, Tea plantations in forested slopes cause long-term effects. Disturbance in habitat leading to straying out of elephants and other animals casing human animal conflicts. Climate change impacts are expected to be high in this sensitive ecosphere. The destruction and degradation poses challenge to the all life forms, livelihoods, cultural spheres of the peninsular india. Many scientist have warn about the man made degradation and causes about an immediate attention and action plans to conserve the vital eco-geo-sphere of Eastern Ghats.
At our times, when all the plane areas and plateaus are losing the nature and ecosystems due to various reasons such as population growth, expansion of agriculture, infrastructure and other development activities, only hilly terrains remains as last preserves for the nature and ecological niches. Even they are also under tremendous pressure and on the brink of becoming barren lifeless hills. The same way Eastern Ghats are also facing the wrath of degradation and destruction. There is an immense need of conservation of Eastern Ghats which have great environmental, socio-economic and cultural importance in peninsular India.
In this context, this conference may enlighten the present need for research in the cited areas.
Eastern Ghats are discontinuous mountain ranges of India, one of the important physiographic units with great bio-geographic, environmental, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual significance, located along the eastern coastline of Indian Peninsular bordering Bay of Bengal. These mountain ranges extend from the deltaic parts of Mahanadi River in Orissa right down to Tamil Nadu in the south and also partially in Karnataka.
The E`astern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats but are older than the Western Ghats, and have a complex geologic history, related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent. One of the biggest characteristics of Eastern Ghats lie in its being extremely fertile. In fact, the Ghat is said to be the watershed of many rivers as the Ghat gets higher average waterfall. Due to higher rainfall, the fertile land results into better crops. Often referred as “Estuaries of India”, Eastern Ghats gift its inhabitant the popular profession of fisheries as its coastal area is full of fishing opportunity. Like Western Ghats, thus, Eastern Ghats also carry a heap of ecological importance.
Challenges faced by Eastern Ghats
Though there are ongoing committed efforts and institutional framework from governments, still the Population pressure, indiscriminate developmental plans, greed and apathy are exerting constant pressure on the unique bio-geosphere of the mountain ranges. Few broad areas of threats are as follows
• Large scale Deforestation due to illegal, clandestine logging, tree felling, Forest fires, Encroachment of forest lands for Agricultural expansion, Cattle grazing etc.
• Ecological degradation due to mining, roads, tourism etc.
• Biodiversity loss due to Game hunting, Poaching, deforestation, wild life trade, invasion of weedy alien species, cattle grazing, crop cultivation, human movement in the forest
• Privatization, commercialization of hills and industrialization in the vicinity
• The other socio ecological issues include Human Animal Conflict, Forest rights, ecosystems, livelihoods/development issues
• cultivation of Narcotic plants and illegal liquor, eucalyptus, commercial cropping in the forests
• Ruthless Plundering of all resources such as land, forests, wildlife, rocks and minerals, water resources etc.
The consequences
Large scale deforestation, degradation, resource plundering is taking place in the hills which is leading to multiple effects on this once pristine unique ecosystem complex. It is causing loss of biodiversity, threatening the survival of primitive tribes, erosion of soils, rock/cliff falls, erratic rainfalls in the region, depletion of water resources, dwindling forest produce threatens tribal’s livelihoods and nutrition. Mining, Indiscriminate resource extraction, Coffee, Tea plantations in forested slopes cause long-term effects. Disturbance in habitat leading to straying out of elephants and other animals casing human animal conflicts. Climate change impacts are expected to be high in this sensitive ecosphere. The destruction and degradation poses challenge to the all life forms, livelihoods, cultural spheres of the peninsular india. Many scientist have warn about the man made degradation and causes about an immediate attention and action plans to conserve the vital eco-geo-sphere of Eastern Ghats.
At our times, when all the plane areas and plateaus are losing the nature and ecosystems due to various reasons such as population growth, expansion of agriculture, infrastructure and other development activities, only hilly terrains remains as last preserves for the nature and ecological niches. Even they are also under tremendous pressure and on the brink of becoming barren lifeless hills. The same way Eastern Ghats are also facing the wrath of degradation and destruction. There is an immense need of conservation of Eastern Ghats which have great environmental, socio-economic and cultural importance in peninsular India.
In this context, this conference may enlighten the present need for research in the cited areas.
The Conference may invite the stake holders and policy makers so that they get a positive feed back for future palnning. It should also be suggested as to steps to be initiated for bringing back the Eastern ghats to the expected level of greenery
ReplyDeleteDr Akula Kishan IFS
Conservator of Forests
Hi, the email id 'secretary@gmail.com' is invalid and my email has bounced saying the email address does not exist. Kindly provide a valid email address. Thank you.
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