The vast Indian subcontinent covers a wide variety of biomes, including : tropical, subtropical & montane forests, tropical & high altitude deserts, fresh water & marine ecosystems, estuarine forests and lagoons. As such, the area covered by the Indian subcontinent contains tremendous biodiversity and pockets of high species level endemism.

Although India suffers from massive overpopulation, protected natural areas remain islands of persistence for much of this biodiversity. Remarkably, despite the pressures on the land by the vast human population, megafauna like Asian elephants and Bengal tigers still occur in sustainable numbers.

Centres of high species richness and endemism that occur within India are largely restricted to the hill forests of northeast India, central Himalayas, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Western Ghats

Some 150 million years ago, peninsular India drifted away from the Gondwanan supercontinent towards Asia. Along its northward passage, it crossed a volcanic hospot, causing upheavals in the landmass, to which the geological origins of the Western Ghats mountain range are traced. In its current form the Western Ghats runs parallel to India's west coast - with peaks, occasionally rising over 2500m - almost uninterrupted from the southern tip of India to north of Mumbai (Bombay).

Its ancient Gondwanan connections, long periods of isolation and species invasions from its subsequent connection with Asia, have historically shaped the biota of peninsular India. In recent times, changing weather patterns have caused the drying out of much of peninsular India, leaving the Western Ghats as islands of wet forests and their uniquely associated biota, amidst drier, human-dominated landscapes. For this reason the Western Ghats and biogeographically related Sri Lanka, have been recognized by Conservation International as among the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots - eco-regions of high biodiversity and species endemism. Endemism is particularly high among vascular plants, fishes, amphibians and reptiles and significant among mammals and birds. The ecoregion is also considered as an Endemic Bird Area by Birdlife International.

A diversity of vegetation types occur in the eco-region, maintained primarily by relief and aspect. Montane (1750m +) and tropical evergreen forest occur in the western slopes. Moving east, the vegetation becomes progressively drier, transforming from evergreen to deciduous and scrub. The narrow band of wet forests contain the major chunk of the ecoregion's endemics - including conservation flagships such as the Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, King Cobra and Great Pied Hornbill. Megafauna including the Tiger and Elephant occur throughout the ecoregion and in significant numbers.

The significance of the Western Ghats stretches beyond its impressive biodiversity. Several major peninsular rivers originate in these mountains. The mountain forests are sponges - soaking the seasonal rains and regulating its flow into thirsty agricultural plains. The natural beauty of the ghats cannot be overstated, with sheer cliffs, rolling grasslands, stunning mountain scenery, lush forests and river valleys sprinkled throughout the landscape of these mountains.