Western Ghats

Western Ghats (between 8.15° N to 12.68.0° N and 77.52° E to 77.66° E) is a a continuous mountain range and it has some passes. The passes are Palghat, Shencottah, Aralvaimozhi, and Achankoil. The Niligris, Anaimalai, Palani hills, Cardamom hills, Varusanadu, Andipatti and Agasthiyar hills are the major hills of Western Ghats. Within the Western Ghats, several prominent hills and hill ranges stand out. The Nilgiris, Anaimalai Hills, Palani Hills, Cardamom Hills, Varusanadu, Andipatti, and Agasthiyar Hills are among the major hill formations that contribute to the diverse landscape and ecological richness of the Western Ghats which is covered around 13 districts (Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode, Kanniyakumari, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Tenkasi, Nilgiris, Theni, Tirunelveli, Tiruppur, Virudhunagar) of Tamil Nadu. In total, the Eastern Ghats region covers an expansive area of 9428 square kilometers in Tamil Nadu. In the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, the altitude in this region ranges from approximately 180 meters above mean sea level (MSL) to 2,637 meters above MSL. The average, minimum temperatures in western ghats of Tamil Nadu can range from approximately 17°C to 20°C, while the maximum temperatures can range from around 28°C to 35°C during the warmer months.

Forest Habitat Suitability Risk due to Climate Change

Base Period (1985-2014)                     Near Century (2021-2050)