Ecologist Madhav Gadgil Receives Champions of the Earth Award
- Recognition:
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- The United Nations has honored ecologist Madhav Gadgil with the prestigious Champions of the Earth Award, the UN’s highest environmental accolade.
- Contribution:
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- Recognized for his seminal work in the Western Ghats, a globally significant biodiversity hotspot.
- He chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), studying the impact of population pressure, climate change, and development activities on the ecologically fragile Western Ghats.
- Key Recommendations:
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- In 2011, the panel recommended designating the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
- It proposed dividing the region into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones for better environmental conservation.
