Tue Dec 10 13:15:45 UTC 2024: ## Indian Ecologist Madhav Gadgil Awarded UN’s Highest Environmental Honour

**New Delhi, [Date]** – Renowned Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil has been awarded the UN Champions of the Earth award, the highest environmental honour bestowed by the United Nations. Gadgil received the accolade for his groundbreaking work on the Western Ghats, a globally significant biodiversity hotspot in India.

Gadgil, who chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, played a crucial role in highlighting the environmental threats facing the region. The panel’s 2011 report recommended designating the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), divided into three zones based on sensitivity levels. The report also advocated for a ban on various environmentally damaging activities, including mining and large-scale energy projects, in the most sensitive areas.

While the recommendations faced considerable opposition from state governments, industries, and local communities, Gadgil defended his work, emphasizing the importance of honesty and factual reporting. He noted that despite initial resistance, increasing access to information through the internet is raising public awareness and fostering resistance to environmental degradation.

Although the Indian government has yet to fully implement the panel’s recommendations, the Western Ghats were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. Subsequent attempts to formally designate ecologically sensitive zones, including a draft notification in July 2024, are still pending due to ongoing state-level objections. A current expert panel is working to resolve these issues. Gadgil’s award underscores the significance of his contributions to environmental protection and conservation in the Western Ghats.

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