Mapping of two Western Ghats districts shows much of proposed ESA overlaps with Notified Forests, Protected Areas, or existing ESZs

The Paani Earth Foundation, a citizen-led initiative, has analyzed the draft notification proposing an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats. Focusing on the districts of Kodagu and Udupi, the foundation examined the proposed ESA villages in relation to existing legal protections.

The ESA draft is distinct from the Kasturirangan report from 2013, which identified the villages proposed for ESA status. While the notification includes some of the restrictions recommended by the Kasturirangan report, it does not incorporate all of them. Notable exclusions include incentives for organic cultivation, financial benefits for ESA villages, and increased community ownership and governance.

In Kodagu, 54 villages are proposed for ESA status, with 70.8% of the proposed ESA area overlapping with Notified Forests, Protected Areas, or existing Eco-Sensitive Zones. The remaining 30% lies outside these protected layers. Kodagu is crucial as a headwater landscape, supporting both the district's water supply and downstream river systems.

In Udupi, 35 villages have been proposed for ESA. Mapping indicates that 82% of the proposed ESA area overlaps with existing protections, while 18% lies outside. Udupi's ESA villages are vital for water resources and downstream river systems.

The Karnataka government opposes the ESA, arguing that it should only cover notified forests and other forests, not plantation areas, agriculture, or residential zones. The foundation clarifies that ESA inclusion does not automatically convert land to forest status. The draft explicitly states that existing land rights, agriculture, and local activities will remain protected. However, mining, quarrying, and certain industries are prohibited within the ESA.