Thursday, April 10, 2008

(WGF) Western Ghats Forum

The Western Ghats are amongst the world's biodiversity Hotspots. The various human-induced threats to the rich biodiversity and the large number of endemic species have been identified and highlighted by the recently completed National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan; Western Ghats Ecoregion. Of the various gaps identified, the need to have an "Advisory Body" that would guide research and policy in the Western Ghats emerged as the most compelling one. As a follow-up to this process, several institutions that are committed to conservation of natural resources and human welfare in the Western Ghats have come together to create a 'Western Ghats Forum'.This forum is the fruit of an unprecedented multi-agency collaboration with a vision to bring a vast cross section of civil society together. The forum envisages fostering better exchange of information and cooperation between various stakeholders. A conference on 'Western Ghats: Conservation and Human Welfare' was held on September 22-24, 2003, as the first step in an ongoing effort to balance the divergent demands of conservation and development for the Western Ghats as an entire bioregion. more..

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