New Delhi. Madhav Gadgil, India’s famous ecologist and pioneer of environmental protection, died in Pune late on Wednesday night. He was 83 years old. According to family sources, Gadgil was ill for some time and breathed his last in a hospital in Pune. His demise has created a huge void in the field of environmental science and ecology.
Madhav Gadgil is known throughout the world for his work on the Western Ghats. This area is considered a global biodiversity hotspot. He chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel constituted by the Government of India. This panel conducted an in-depth study of the impact of development activities, population pressure and climate change. His report, known as the ‘Gadgil Report, made concrete suggestions for the protection of India’s fragile environmental areas.