The Western Ghats is one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots and the water tower of peninsular India, sustaining rivers, forests, wildlife, and millions of human lives. This section tracks key environmental governance processes such as the MoEFCC’s 6th Draft Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) Notification, maps Western Ghats river catchments, examines energy projects, and profiles wildlife sanctuaries and corridors with a focus on legal protection and policy gaps. Alongside this, we document toxic pollution crises such as Endosulfan, linking ecology, public health, and governance failures. Together, these narratives aim to build a clear, evidence-based understanding of what is happening in the Western Ghats—and how it can be protected.