Madhav Gadgil, ecologist who championed conservation of fragile Western Ghats, passes away

Honoured with the UN’s highest environmental honour in 2024 

In 2024, Dr Gadgil was named a laureate of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Champions of the Earth award, recognising his lifetime contribution to environmental science and community-led conservation. This is the United Nations’ highest environmental honour. He is one of six laureates in the 2024 cohort.

Helped establish India’s first biosphere reserve in 1986 

One of Dr Gadgil’s most significant achievements was establishing India’s first biosphere reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 1986. He undertook ecological reconnaissance across three Western Ghats states, trekking, interacting with and even living among forest communities in sacred groves.

Madhav Gadgil interview: ‘The idea that coal is essential for economic development needs to be examined’

Worked as key architet of India’s Biological Diversity Act 

As a member of several government bodies, including the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisory Council, Gadgil was one of the key architects of India’s Biological Diversity Act and contributed to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

In a 2024 interview with The Indian Express, Gadgil said: “To tackle climate change and its impact, we will have to address activities such as rock quarries and traffic congestion. But that will not be easy because quarries and selling vehicles are huge sources of money. Hopefully, in the future, people at the ground level and marginalised communities will organise and make their voices heard to change the situation.”