World · India Bureau
Climate change threatens Western Ghats forest stability in Nilgiri reserve
Scientific research has revealed that shifting climate patterns are destabilising forest ecosystems across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats. Researchers warn that the delicate balance of one of India's most biodiverse regions faces unprecedented pressure from warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns.
LSN India ·
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, spanning parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, is experiencing significant ecological disruption as climate change alters the environmental conditions that have sustained its forests for millennia. Scientific studies indicate that rising temperatures and shifting monsoon patterns are affecting moisture levels, forest composition, and the distribution of plant and animal species across the reserve's varied elevations.
The Western Ghats, recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot, harbour numerous endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Changes to temperature and rainfall regimes are already influencing the growth cycles of vegetation, the availability of food sources for wildlife, and the overall health of forest stands that have remained relatively stable for generations.
Researchers emphasise that the interconnected nature of these forest ecosystems means that disruptions at one level cascade through the food chain and habitat structure. Species adapted to specific climatic conditions face pressure to migrate to higher elevations or cooler microclimates, though such movement is constrained by fragmented landscapes and human settlements.
The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive conservation strategies and climate adaptation measures in the region. Scientists recommend enhanced monitoring of ecosystem changes, protection of forest corridors to enable species migration, and integration of climate resilience into forest management practices across the biosphere reserve.