India, Feb. 5 -- A new study by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research ( IISER) highlighted that, the hill slopes in Western Ghats, which are highly threatened by encroachments, are playing crucial role in maintaining the green cover in western ghats in India. The study conducted in 25 Protected areas of Western Ghats revealed that uneven solar heating of slopes facing different directions creates better conditions for tree growth on north- and north-west facing slopes, and less favourable on south- and south-east facing slopes in the Western Ghats.

Known as a global biodiversity hotspot, the Western ghat Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Climate Change, encroachmen...