Ecologist Madhav Gadgil Dies at 83 in Pune

Renowned ecologist and environmental thinker Madhav Gadgil passed away in Pune on January 7, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 83. Widely regarded as one of India’s most influential environmental scientists, Gadgil’s work reshaped national debates on conservation, development, and people-centric ecological governance, particularly in relation to the Western Ghats.

Life, Education and Academic Journey

Born in 1942 in the Western Ghats region, Madhav Gadgil developed an early fascination with nature and human–environment interactions. He pursued higher education in Pune and Mumbai before completing his doctoral research in mathematical ecology at Harvard University. Over a scientific career spanning six decades, he combined field ecology with anthropology, consistently describing himself as a “people’s scientist”.

Gadgil Report and Western Ghats Conservation

Gadgil is best known for chairing the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, whose recommendations came to be known as the Gadgil Report. The report called for strong protection of ecologically sensitive zones across the Western Ghats, warning that unregulated infrastructure and industrial expansion could have disastrous consequences. The proposal to classify nearly 75 per cent of the Western Ghats as environmentally sensitive sparked intense political debate and resistance from several state governments.

National and Global Environmental Contributions

Beyond the Western Ghats, Gadgil played a key role in drafting India’s Biological Diversity Act and chaired the Science and Technology Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility. In 2024, he was recognised as one of the six ‘Champions of the Earth’ by the United Nations Environment Programme, which praised his lifelong commitment to participatory environmental governance and sustainable development.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The Gadgil Report focused on conservation of the Western Ghats.
• The Western Ghats are a UNESCO-recognised global biodiversity hotspot.
• Madhav Gadgil contributed to drafting India’s Biological Diversity Act.
• He was named a UNEP ‘Champion of the Earth’ in 2024.

Legacy as a People-Centric Environmentalist

Gadgil’s approach emphasised decentralised decision-making and the involvement of local communities in environmental protection. His writings, teaching, and policy interventions continue to influence ecological research and public policy in India and abroad. His passing is widely seen as a major loss to India’s environmental movement and scientific community.