Climate change could transform Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats by 2050 | Focus Tamil Nadu

The Western Ghats may still be green in the coming years, but it may not be the same as the forests we know today. A new study by researchers from the Center for Climate Change and Disaster Management at Anna University warns that climate change may gradually change the composition of forests in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, including the Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, Valparai, Courtallam and Kanyakumari districts. The study suggests that evergreen and deciduous forests may shrink, while dry thorn forests may expand by 2050. Such changes could impact biodiversity, water security, carbon storage and ecosystem stability across the State. In this episode of The Hindu Focus Tamil Nadu, D. Suresh Kumar explains what the findings mean, why scientists are concerned, and what the future holds for one of India’s most important biodiversity hotspots.