Guwahati: Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil died at his residence in Pune late on Wednesday following a brief illness, family sources said on Thursday. He was 82. His last rites will be held at the Vaikuntha crematorium in Pune at 4 pm on Thursday.
Gadgil was internationally known for his pioneering work on ecology and biodiversity, particularly in the Western Ghats. In 2024, the United Nations conferred on him the Champions of the Earth award, its highest environmental honour, recognising his seminal contributions to the conservation of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
As chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), Gadgil authored a report that recommended strict protection for ecologically sensitive areas. The panel proposed curbs on new roads and construction activities, restrictions on development on steep slopes, and a ban on rock quarrying, among other measures, to reduce ecological degradation and disaster risks.
In an interview last year, Gadgil had warned that development models imposed without community consent, including mining and polluting industries, were increasing the vulnerability of the Western Ghats. He had also criticised top-down conservation approaches, arguing that both development and protection efforts must involve local communities to prevent environmental disasters.
Former Union environment minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described Gadgil as an outstanding academic, committed field researcher, institution-builder and mentor. In a post on X, Ramesh said Gadgil combined rigorous scientific training with deep respect for traditional knowledge systems, particularly in biodiversity conservation, and remained an inspirational figure for decades.
Born in Pune, Gadgil completed his early education in Pune and Mumbai before pursuing a PhD in Mathematical Ecology at Harvard University after his post-graduation from Mumbai University. He later joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), where he worked from 1973 to 2004 and founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences in 1983.
Over his career, Gadgil published more than 225 research papers spanning evolution, ecology, conservation biology, human ecology and ecological history. He worked closely with local communities in the Western Ghats for over four decades and also contributed to research and conservation initiatives in the northeastern states.
Gadgil played a key role in conceptualising India’s first Biosphere Reserve Project in 1986 and made significant contributions to landmark legislations, including the Biological Diversity Act, 2003, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. He received several national honours, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.
He is survived by a son, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and grandchildren. His wife died last year. His father, Dhananjay Gadgil, was a noted economist and former vice-chairman of the Planning Commission, widely recognised for advancing the farmers’ cooperative movement in Maharashtra.
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule condoled Gadgil’s death, saying he made invaluable contributions to environmental conservation and the protection of biodiversity in the Western Ghats.