Prof. Madhav Dhananjaya Gadgil, the renowned Indian ecologist who championed a community-based approach to environmental conservation, passed away on January 7, 2026.
He firmly believed that sustainable protection of nature is possible only through the active participation of local people.
In Kerala, where the Western Ghats play a crucial ecological role, his warnings and policy recommendations gained renewed relevance following the 2018 and 2024 floods and landslides.
Basic Facts
- Born – May 24, 1942 (Pune, Maharashtra).
- Died – January 7, 2026.
- Academic Background – Ph.D. from Harvard University (first to receive a Ph.D. in Mathematical Ecology).
- Founded – Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, in 1983.
- First Biosphere Reserve – Played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (India’s first) in 1986.
- Awards –
- Padma Shri (1981)
- Padma Bhushan (2006)
- Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (2015)
- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award (1986)
- UNEP Champions of the Earth (Lifetime Achievement) (2024)
- Books –
- Ecology and Equity.
- This Fissured Land (Co-author: Ramachandra Guha).
- Autobiography - A Walk Up the Hill: Living with People and Nature.
The Gadgil Commission (WGEEP)
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), popularly known as the Gadgil Commission, was constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 2010 under the chairmanship of Prof. Madhav Gadgil.
The panel submitted its report in 2011 to ensure the ecological protection and sustainable development of the Western Ghats.
The Commission's core recommendation was to declare the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and proposed a three-tier zoning system:
- ESZ-1 (High sensitivity)
- ESZ-2 (Moderate sensitivity)
- ESZ-3 (Lower sensitivity)
The panel also recommended the creation of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) for effective governance.
A key feature of the report was its emphasis on bottom-up governance, giving Gram Sabhas a central role in decision-making on developmental projects.
The Gadgil Commission emphasized the importance of striking a balance between environmental conservation and the livelihoods of local communities.
Specific Recommendations for Kerala in the Gadgil Report
- Strongly opposed the Athirappilly Hydroelectric Project on the Chalakudy River as it would damage river ecology, forest cover, and tribal livelihoods (Kadar community).
- Recommended a total ban on new mining, quarrying, and "Red Category" industries in ESZ-1.
- Existing operations were to be phased out.
- No new high-pollution (Red Category) industries in ESZ-1.
- Strict environmental clearance is required even in ESZ-2 areas.
- Large dams, thermal power plants, and major highways in fragile areas were discouraged; preference was given for small, eco-friendly development projects.
- Conservation of evergreen forests, wildlife habitats, and elephant corridors in the Western Ghats region of Kerala.
- Strict controls on real estate development in hill areas and forest fringes prevent unplanned construction in landslide-prone zones.
- Identified Western Ghats districts of Kerala as high-risk zones for floods and landslides, and recommended land-use planning based on ecological sensitivity.
- Safeguarding the livelihoods of Adivasi communities through sustainable forest-based practices.
After Effects of the Gadgil report in Kerala
When the report was released, it was met with unprecedented protests from all walks of life, particularly in the highland districts of Idukki and Wayanad.
Local farmers, particularly settler communities, were misled by rumors that they would be evicted from their lands and that they wouldn't even be allowed to paint their houses or repair roads.
Powerful lobbies with strong political backing, like those in quarrying, mining, and timber industries, mobilized people against the report to protect their business interests.
The Catholic Church and major political parties (UDF & LDF) showed an uncommon unity to oppose the report, fearing it would freeze all developmental activities.
Prof. Gadgil, despite his effort, was personally vilified, and the report was branded as "anti-people" and "environmentally extremist."
Formation of The Kasturirangan Commission
Due to the massive backlash from Kerala and other Western Ghats states, the Central Government did not implement the Gadgil Report.
But formed High-Level Working Group (HLWG), chaired by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, was formed on August 17, 2012, and submitted their report on April 15, 2013.
The objective was to review the Gadgil Report (WGEEP) holistically and in a multidisciplinary fashion.
It reduced the protected area from nearly 64% (Gadgil) to 37% of the Western Ghats. It used "remote sensing" rather than ground-level verification, which Gadgil criticized as unscientific.
Based on this report, the Ministry of Environment issued a draft notification on November 13, 2013, which listed 123 villages in Kerala as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).
The announcement triggered intense agitations in the high ranges, particularly in Idukki and Wayanad, leading to a state-wide hartal on November 18, 2013.
The government issued several "Draft Notifications" since then, which are still being debated in 2026.
The Oommen V. Oommen Committee
Due to the pressure, the Kerala Government (then led by the UDF) appointed a 3-member expert committee headed by Dr. Oommen V. Oommen in October 2013.
Its primary purpose was to address the massive public unrest following the Kasturirangan Report by conducting a 'ground-level verification' of the proposed 123 villages in the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
If the Kasturirangan report can be considered as the dilution of the Gadgil report, then the Oommen V. Oommen Committee report can be considered as the "Dilution of the Dilution."
Many of the major recommendations of the first 2 reports were further diluted.
It is recommended that all inhabited areas, agricultural lands, and plantations (Tea, Coffee, Rubber) be completely excluded from the ESA category.
The report argued that only Reserve Forests and existing protected areas should be strictly classified as ESA. Of the proposed 9,993.7 km2, roughly 9,107 km2 was forest land.
It also suggested amendments to the Kerala Ecologically Fragile Lands (EFL) Act, 2003, to ensure that small farmers (holding up to 5 acres) were not harassed or evicted.
Comparison of Western Ghats Conservation Reports
| Feature | Madhav Gadgil Report (WGEEP) | Kasturirangan Report (HLWG) | Oommen V. Oommen Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year Submitted | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Official Name | Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel | High-Level Working Group | Three-Member Expert Committee |
| Area Recommended | ~64% (Entire Western Ghats) | ~37% (Only Natural Landscapes) | ~28% (Reduced area in Kerala) |
| ESA in Kerala | Classified 14 districts; proposed total ban on new dams. | Identified 123 villages as ESA (approx. 13,108 km2). | Reduced Kerala’s ESA to 9,993.7 km2. |
| Methodology | Bottom-Up: Empowered Gram Sabhas for decision-making. | Top-Down: Used Remote Sensing & Satellite imagery. | Ground-level: Physical verification & Cadastral mapping. |
| Zoning | 3-tier: ESZ-1, ESZ-2, ESZ-3. | 2-tier: Natural vs. Cultural Landscapes. | Focused on separating Forests from Farms. |
| Philosophy | Nature-centric: "People must protect nature." | Development-centric: "Balance nature and growth." | Farmer-centric: "Protect settlers and plantations." |
| Key Stand in Kerala | Opposed the Athirappilly project; total ban on new quarries. | Banned "Red Category" industries; restricted mining. | Exempted all plantations, agricultural land, and houses. |
The Prophetic Nature of Gadgil Report: The Nature's Warning (2018–2024)
The Gadgil Commission (WGEEP) had warned that unregulated construction, quarrying, deforestation, and large infrastructure projects in the Western Ghats would increase the risk of floods, landslides, and ecological disasters.
However, many of its recommendations were not implemented due to political and economic resistance.
The most significant 'after-effect' was the realization that the Gadgil's warnings were scientifically accurate.
After the devastating Kerala floods of 2018, Gadgil famously called it a 'man-made disaster,' pointing out that the regions where landslides were most severe (like Idukki) were the same ones he had marked as ESZ-1.
Disasters in Kavalappara (2019), Pettimudi (2020), and the devastating Wayanad Landslides (2024) brought the report back into the center of public debate, once again proving Gadgil was right.
Current Affairs
In 2021, a new rare plant species discovered in the Nelliyampathi hills of Kerala was named in his honor as Elaeocarpus gadgilii as a tribute to his efforts to save the Western Ghats.
Prof. Madhav Gadgil is widely honoured in Kerala’s grassroots movements as the 'Janakeeya Sasthranjan' (People’s Scientist) for his contributions to community-based environmental conservation.
He played a pivotal role in shaping the Biological Diversity Act (2002) and promoting the concept of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR), which Kerala has successfully implemented across its local bodies.
Gadgil argued that local people are the best experts on their surroundings. By documenting this knowledge, PBRs prevent Biopiracy (foreign companies stealing local knowledge).
Kerala became the first state to establish Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in all its local self-government institutions.
During his time in Kerala, he worked closely with the Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) and the State Biodiversity Board to ensure that PBRs were not just 'data collections' but tools for local development and environmental protection.
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