Application of DPSIR framework to identify the drivers and impacts of Western Ghats envermental issues

The Western Ghats is one of the 10 most significant biodiversity hotspots in the world. Shortly described an area qualified as a biodiversity hotspot is an area that has prominent levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human interference. Additionally it must have lost 75% of its primary vegetation in order to be counted as a biodiversity hotspot. (Myers et al. 2000)

The Western Ghats hosts one of the four watersheds of India with large river systems originating from the area reaching all over the southern parts of the country. Further the mountains of Ghats cover only a small part of India’s total land area, the Ghats are home to more than 27% of the country’s species and 1600 flowering plants that are unique to the area. (Nayar et al. 2014)

Since the onset of the British colonial era and expansion in the Indian subcontinent around 1860 large areas of land in the Western Ghats have been cleared for such uses as agricultural plantations, quarries, dams (hydro-electrical and agricultural) as well as the timber industry.
Over the years more than 50 dams have been constructed along the Western Ghats both for hydro electric purposes as well as irrigation. The dams not only obstruct the natural flow of the rivers but also submerge large areas with water as well as displacing indigenous populations and damaging the surrounding ecosystems.
Numerous quarries further results in extensive deforestation and clear-felling in the area which encroaches on the natural ecosystem. The removal of terrestrial forests are also done for the purpose of the plantation industry such as tea and coffee as well as the timber industry (Daniels 2007).

The Western Ghats perform essential roles of hydrology and watersheds. Approximately 245 million people live in the Indian peninsular states that receive much of their water supply from Western Ghats rivers. Thus this region's soil and water sustain millions of people's livelihoods. As a water basin for all of southern India ecological issues are not localized to the area but rather affects the entirety of the region. Along the river deltas stemming from the watershed such as the Godavari river (India's second largest river) houses more than twice the population density at 729 houses/km² compared to the national average making it increasingly sensitive to floods and droughts (South Asia Network on Dams Rivers and People 2014).