Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 8: Veteran ecologist, environmentalist, and writer Madhav Gadgil, the mind behind the landmark report on the Western Ghats, passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 83.

Gadgil, a former member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) in 2010, widely known as the Gadgil Commission. He was also instrumental in drafting the Biological Diversity Act and played a key role in implementing the Forest Rights Act.

A recipient of both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Gadgil made notable contributions to population biology, conservation biology, human ecology, and ecological history. His research spanned decades, with over 250 scientific articles published in national and international journals.

Madhav Gadgil’s work has left an indelible mark on India’s environmental policies and conservation efforts, and he will be remembered as a pioneering voice for ecological preservation.