ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREA (ESA)
1. Context
Twelve years after it issued the first draft notification, the Centre is finally ready to finalise and notify the demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats region, at least in the three states in which contentious issues have more or less been resolved
2. What is an ecologically sensitive area?
- An Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) is a region that possesses unique and fragile environmental characteristics and therefore requires special protection from activities that could cause irreversible ecological damage.
- These areas are rich in biodiversity, provide important ecosystem services, and often support rare or endangered species of plants and animals.
- Because of their ecological significance, any developmental activities in such regions need to be carefully regulated to ensure that economic growth does not come at the cost of environmental degradation.
- The idea behind declaring an area as ecologically sensitive is not to completely stop human activities, but to strike a balance between conservation and development.
- Certain activities that can have severe environmental impacts—such as mining, quarrying, large-scale industries, thermal power plants, or extensive deforestation—are either prohibited or strictly regulated.
- At the same time, sustainable activities like agriculture, horticulture, eco-tourism, and traditional livelihoods are generally encouraged so that local communities can continue to benefit from the resources without destroying them.
- In India, the concept of Ecologically Sensitive Areas derives from the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Central Government can notify such areas to provide them with an additional layer of protection.
- A notable example is the Western Ghats, one of the world's eight “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity.
- Parts of the Western Ghats have been proposed and notified as Ecologically Sensitive Areas to preserve their rich flora and fauna, maintain water security, regulate climate, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem
3. Which state has the highest number of ecologically sensitive zones in India?
- Maharashtra has the highest number of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) in India. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has identified and notified the maximum number of ecologically sensitive zones in the state under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- This is primarily because Maharashtra has a large number of protected areas, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves, many of which lie within the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats.
- The state's varied landscapes and rich flora and fauna necessitate the creation of numerous buffer zones to protect these ecosystems from harmful developmental activities
4. Who declares ecologically sensitive areas?
- The Forest Survey of India (FSI) is the apex national institution functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and is entrusted with the periodic assessment and monitoring of the country’s forest resources.
- Besides conducting forest inventories, the organization also undertakes training, research, and extension activities.
- Established on June 1, 1981, FSI replaced the Pre-investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR), which had been launched in 1965 by the Government of India with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- In November 2013, acting on the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee, the Central Government invoked the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to restrict the establishment and expansion of activities such as mining, quarrying, sand extraction, thermal power projects, large-scale construction, townships, and highly polluting red-category industries.
- The issuance of final Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notifications further strengthens the legal framework aimed at safeguarding these environmentally fragile regions.
5. Which are the states where the areas to be demarcated as ESA?
The proposed Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats spans six states. Based on the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee, approximately 56,825 sq. km of the Western Ghats has been identified for demarcation as ESA. These states are:
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Goa
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
Among these, the largest proposed ESA area lies in Karnataka (20,668 sq. km), followed by Maharashtra (17,340 sq. km) and Kerala (about 9,993 sq. km)
6. Where do the Western Ghats stretch from?
- The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Hills, form a continuous mountain chain running parallel to the western coast of India.
- They stretch for about 1,600 kilometres from the Tapti (Tapi) River valley in Gujarat in the north to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula.
- Along their course, they pass through six states—Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- The mountain range covers an area of approximately 1,60,000 sq. km and acts as a major watershed, giving rise to several important peninsular rivers such as the Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, and Tungabhadra.
- Owing to their exceptional biodiversity and high degree of endemism, the Western Ghats are recognized as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biodiversity and have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
7. Significance of Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hold immense ecological, climatic, cultural, and economic significance:
- The Western Ghats are one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity. They host over 7,400 species of flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insect species, and 290 freshwater fish species, many of which are endemic.
- A significant proportion of the species found in the Western Ghats are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world. This includes many unique species of plants, animals, and microorganisms
- The region provides crucial ecosystem services, such as water purification, climate regulation, soil stabilization, and carbon sequestration
- The Western Ghats play a critical role in the Indian monsoon system. They intercept the moisture-laden winds from the southwest, causing heavy rainfall on the western side, which supports lush forests and agriculture
- The forests of the Western Ghats act as a climate buffer, moderating temperatures and maintaining regional climate stability
- The Western Ghats are the source of numerous rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery, which provide water to millions of people in peninsular India. These rivers are crucial for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower
- The Western Ghats are home to numerous indigenous communities and tribal groups who have lived in harmony with the environment for centuries. These communities have rich cultural traditions and knowledge systems linked to the forests and biodiversity
- Many areas in the Western Ghats are considered sacred by local communities and host numerous temples, shrines, and pilgrimage sites.
- The Western Ghats support diverse agricultural systems, including spice plantations (pepper, cardamom), tea, coffee, and rubber. These crops are economically significant both domestically and for export
8.Way forward
Though the negotiations with Kerala and Karnataka are continuing, the Centre is learnt to be preparing to notify the ESA in the states where an agreement on this issue has either been achieved, or is close to being finalised. This is different from the previous attempts in which the Centre had issued draft notifications for ESAs in all the states together
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For Prelims: Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Landslides, Flash floods
For Mains: GS 1 - Indian Geography
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Previous year questions1. Which of the following statements in respect of landslides are correct? (NDA 2022) 1. These occur only on gentle slopes during rain.
2. They generally occur in clay-rich soil.
3. Earthquakes trigger landslides.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. A. 1 and 2 B. 2 and 3 C. 1 and 3 D. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (B) For Mains: 1. Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy. (250 words) (2021)
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Source: indianexpress
