Major Threats to Biodiversity in the Western Ghats

1. Deforestation
Intensive deforestation for agricultural and plantation crops and infrastructure building has largely destroyed forests in the Western Ghats.
– Effect: Destruction of the habitats of some endemic species like the Lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri Tahr.

2. Habitat Fragmentation
Urbanization and the highway network isolate parts of the habitat into fragmented sections, severing wildlife population pockets from one another.
Impact: It lowers the genetic diversity of species and raises their risk to extinction.

3. Climate Change
Temperature and precipitation variations break the subtle balance of an ecosystem.
– Impact: Affects species like amphibians and high-altitude flora, which are highly sensitive to climatic changes.

Pollution’s Impact on Water Bodies in India

Sources of Water Pollution
1. Industrial Wastes: Non-treated wastewater laced with metallic and chemical contamination.
2. Pesticide usage along with chemical-based fertilizers and subsequent runoff within the rivers and lakes.
3. House waste: With the presence of the inefficiently treated sewages; water is thus experiencing organic as well as microbial pollutions.
Regulatory Instruments
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 – Provides the framework on controlling water pollution.

National Ganga River Basin Authority – The Authority is for river cleaning and rejuvenation. It lacks the elements of effective enforcement, insufficient infrastructures of treatments, and lack of proper coordination among various agencies. I

nnovative Solutions for Sustainability
1. Bioremediation: Afforestation and the use of microorganisms to clean water.

2. Decentralized Treatment Systems: Community-based activities for wastewater treatments.

3. Circular Economy Practices: Recycling industrial and domestic wastes for reuse in factories.

4. Implementation of Technology: IoT-based sensors for real-time monitoring of water quality.

Conclusion
Protecting biodiversity in the Western Ghats and addressing India’s issues of water pollution require an integrated approach. Balancing ecological conservation with developmental needs, involving community participation, and using technology can sustain resilient ecosystems for a very long time.