This project seeks to build an open source spatially explicit dataset to help with conservation planning in the Western Ghats. It specifically targets ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) which have a broad definition which includes:
- Representative ecosystems with high diversity and richness of native species
- Systems facing high levels of stress on account of anthropogenic activities
- Areas where natural ecosystems have been altered beyond their ecological resilience in the recent past and
- Ecosystems that provide a large set of ecosystem functions and services, largely watershed services.
The project involves contributions of data from three institutions (IFP - Pondicherry, ATREE - Bangalore and FERAL - Pondicherry) which will be standardised to fall under the same geographic projection and image or vector format. This collation process will also result in the creation of a detailed metadata about the contributions. Information thus collated will be distributed among the partners and also contributed to the Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel. In addition the project intends to pursue original research which helps identify ESAs, to organise three consultations with stakeholders on ESAs and the creation of maps which can be utilised by decision makers in the identification of ESAs and help in conservation planning and decision making.
R.S. Bhalla