As stated elsewhere in this report, the Western Ghats represent one of the `hot spots’ of biological diversity, with significant repository of endemic endangered and rare elements of plants and animal species (Puri et al.,1983; Jagtap, 1997). In the broad leaved evergreen forests such as those in these Ghats, the average number of plant species per hectare is almost ten times more than those found in the Dry Deciduous Forests (Kumar,1987). This species richness is an expression of the productivity of such forests, the variability of habitat conditions and the wide range of niches. In the scheme of the biogeographic classification of India, the Western Ghats represent the Biogeographic Zone 5, with two provinces, 5A & 5B. The Western Ghats in Maharashtra fall in the latter province (Rodgers and Panwar, 1988).

The Western Ghats in Maharashtra begin south of the Dangs in Gujarat to the north, terminating its section within the state boundary in the Kolhapur district to the south. The highest peak, within the state, Mount Kalsubai, (1646 m) is not far from Igatpuri and is located within the 361 km2 Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS). The estimated extent of the Ghats in Maharashtra is 13477 km2 which constitutes 4.5% of the geographical area of the state. Currently, there are 4 Protected Areas in this Biogeographic Province, the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary 453 km2, Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary 372 km2, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary 131 km2 and Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary 361 km2 (Rodgers and Panwar, 1988). Jagtap (1997) has documented the range of plant and animal species which is eloquent on the ecological significance of this Biogeographic Province. Not all of the forests however belong to the evergreen or semi evergreen category. Gogate and Jagtap (1997) have documented 5 major forest types as per the classification of Champion and Seth (1968) and they range from the Sub Tropical Evergreen Forests at their moister end of the scale to the southern thorn/scrub forests at their dry end. There are several sub types within the main forest types. The forests have also been classified according to their function viz. protection forests, tree forests, minor forests and pasture lands, and as per the established legal status.

Ecologically, each category is unique and has its own economic and cultural importance. There is a popular and erroneous notion that forests that represent greater species richness are ecologically more important than those which exhibit a narrower range. This denies the established evolutionary perspective of the biota (Frankel and Soule’, 1981). The economic perspective is often entirely at variance, ranging from the `Selective’ group of products such as timber, or tendu leaf Diospyros melanoxylon which fall in the category of commerce to subsistence economy of local inhabitants based on livestock grazing, fuelwood, items of food and traditional medicine. The market forces are now turning around what used to be once a true subsistence economy to a market economy in some significantly large sections of the forested landscapes. Subsistence economy is popularly considered synonymous with sustainable use or wise use. This also now requires a review in context of the rapidly growing population of humanity (Sawarkar and Panwar 1987; Sawarkar and Uniyal, 1992). It is however not necessary to discuss this any further at this point. What is germane is how does one work a way into conservation priorities and then try and secure these priorities in consideration to the ground realities.