Western Ghats Vegetation: Slope Direction Crucial for Tree Cover and Canopy Height, Finds IISER Pune Study

Pune, 4th February 2025: In a recent paper, IISER Pune researchers and collaborators examined vegetation in 25 protected areas along the Western Ghats and found a link between the direction of the slopes and tree cover, as well as canopy height.

The authors included PhD student Devi Maheshwori and faculty member Dr. Shreyas Managave from IISER Pune; Dr. Girish Jathar from Srushti Conservation Foundation; and independent GIS Consultant Sham Davande.

The research revealed two main patterns: north-facing slopes have higher tree cover and taller canopy height compared to south-facing slopes; similarly, west-facing slopes have more tree cover and taller canopies than east-facing slopes. As a result, the northwest-facing slopes tend to have the highest tree cover and tallest canopy height, while southeast-facing slopes have the lowest. The authors found these differences to be more pronounced on steeper slopes.

“Understanding the factors that influence tree growth in the Western Ghats is critical for both academic research and successful conservation and afforestation efforts,” said Dr. Shreyas Managave. “While regional rainfall patterns are known to impact vegetation distribution at regional scale, this study is the first to demonstrate significant influence of slope direction at the landscape scale.”

The study suggests 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. This research paper highlights the importance of considering slope direction when planning biodiversity assessments, protecting endemic species, or increasing tree cover in the Western Ghats.

This research received funding from the Science Education and Research Board (SERB), DST, Government of India.

Citation:
Devi M., Managave S. R., Jathar G. A., Davande S. (2025). Monsoonal climate and asymmetric heating facilitate the slope-aspect to influence landscape-scale tree structure in the Western Ghats, India. Environmental Research Communications, DOI 10.1088/2515-7620/ada420.

About IISER Pune

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune is an autonomous teaching and research institute set up in 2006 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, with the primary goal of integrating high-quality research with undergraduate teaching.