Veteran ecologist Madhav Gadgil, one of India&rsquo;s most influential voices in environmental conservation, passed away in Pune on Wednesday night after a brief illness. He was 83.
Gadgil is widely regarded as a pioneer of grassroots environmentalism in India, known for championing a bottom-up approach that placed local communities at the centre of ecological decision-making. His work consistently highlighted the link between unchecked development, ecological degradation and human suffering.
He is best known for chairing the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel in 2011, whose findings came to be known as the Gadgil Report. The panel recommended that nearly 75% of the Western Ghats be declared an ecologically sensitive zone due to its rich biodiversity, dense forests and large number of endemic species. The recommendations sparked intense political debate and resistance from several states, leading to their dilution in subsequent reports and draft notifications. Even 15 years later, large parts of the eco-sensitive areas identified by the panel remain officially unnotified.
Over the years, Gadgil repeatedly warned that large infrastructure and development projects in fragile regions such as the Western Ghats and the Himalayas would result in severe environmental disasters. Events such as repeated floods and landslides, including the deadly 2024 landslides in Kerala&rsquo;s Wayanad, an area flagged by his panel, have reinforced the relevance of his early warnings.
In recognition of his lifetime contribution, Gadgil was named one of the six Champions of the Earth for 2024 by the United Nations Environment Programme. His scientific career spanned over six decades, during which he worked across institutions in India and abroad, including Harvard University and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
Born in Pune in 1942, Gadgil developed an early fascination with nature, inspired by his birdwatcher father. He went on to study in Pune, Mumbai and Harvard, where he earned a doctorate in mathematical ecology. At IISc, where he taught for over three decades, he founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences and carried out extensive research in collaboration with tribal communities, farmers, herders and fisherfolk.
Gadgil authored seven books and more than 225 scientific papers, and played a key role in shaping India&rsquo;s environmental policy framework, including contributions to the Biological Diversity Act. His research and advocacy consistently aimed to protect marginalised communities while conserving ecosystems ranging from forests to wetlands.
His wife, eminent monsoon scientist Sulochana Gadgil, passed away in July last year. With his death, India loses a scientist who combined rigorous scholarship with deep empathy for people and nature, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence environmental thought and policy.

Renowned ecologist and Western Ghats advocate passes away in Pune after illness

Madhav Gadgil, an Indian Ecologist, Dies at 83

Renowned ecologist and Western Ghats advocate passes away in Pune after illness

January 8, 2026 | 15:06 IST