What Happened
- A symposium titled "Discerning the Eastern Ghats: From Genes to Landscapes" was held at the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad (February 18–21, 2026), bringing together researchers, conservation practitioners, NGOs, and government agencies.
- Scientists outlined a genomic-based conservation roadmap for the Eastern Ghats, integrating eDNA (environmental DNA) surveys, genomic sequencing, and landscape-level data to guide biodiversity protection in this undersampled mountain ecosystem.
- Researchers used eDNA techniques to detect biodiversity across the Eastern Ghats without direct capture, uncovering insects, arthropods, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants, and microorganisms — many not previously formally documented in the region.
- Experts stressed that effective conservation must combine genomic data with habitat connectivity mapping, land-use patterns, topography, and satellite-based land cover analysis.
- The initiative represents a significant step in applying cutting-edge genomics to the conservation of a biodiversity hotspot that remains far less studied than the Western Ghats.
Static Topic Bridges
Eastern Ghats — Geography, Ecology, and Biodiversity
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of hills running roughly parallel to the eastern coast of India, extending through Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, with outliers in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. Unlike the continuous Western Ghats (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biodiversity hotspot), the Eastern Ghats are fragmented — divided by major rivers including the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, which created a mosaic of isolated hill blocks. This fragmentation has driven significant allopatric speciation (evolution of new species in geographically isolated populations), making the Eastern Ghats genetically rich but understudied. They are home to distinct tribal communities, including Kondhs, Bondas, Sauras, and Yanadis, whose traditional knowledge systems are intertwined with local biodiversity. The region hosts several endemic species, including the Eastern Ghats slender loris, Jerdon's courser, and numerous endemic plant species.
- Eastern Ghats elevation: generally 600–900 m, with peaks reaching ~1,680 m (Arma Konda, Andhra Pradesh).
- Major hill ranges: Nallamala Hills, Velikonda Range, Shevaroy Hills, Javadi Hills, Kalrayan Hills, Chitteri Hills, Pachaimalai Hills.
- The Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet at the Nilgiri Hills — a region of extraordinarily high biodiversity.
- Similipal (Odisha) is the only Tiger Reserve in the Eastern Ghats recognised also as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (part of Man and Biosphere Network).
- Unlike the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats do not have UNESCO World Heritage Site status despite comparable biodiversity values in certain areas.
Connection to this news: The genomic conservation initiative addresses the systematic under-representation of the Eastern Ghats in India's biodiversity science and policy compared to the better-studied Western Ghats.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) as a Biodiversity Monitoring Tool
Environmental DNA refers to genetic material left in the environment by organisms through shed cells, mucus, excretion, or decomposition. eDNA sampling involves collecting water, soil, or air samples and extracting, amplifying, and sequencing the DNA present — allowing scientists to detect species without direct observation or capture. Compared to conventional survey methods (camera traps, transect counts, netting), eDNA is non-invasive, faster, and capable of detecting rare or cryptic species at very low densities. Metabarcoding — simultaneously sequencing thousands of short DNA sequences and matching them to reference databases — allows assessment of entire communities from a single environmental sample. The technique has been used globally to detect aquatic invasive species, monitor amphibian populations, and map fish biodiversity in rivers, and is increasingly being adopted for landscape-scale biodiversity assessments.
- eDNA degrades within hours to days in the environment, depending on temperature, pH, and UV exposure — meaning positive detections indicate recent (or current) presence of a species.
- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) are beginning to incorporate eDNA methods into their monitoring protocols.
- Limitations: eDNA cannot assess population size, age structure, or behaviour — it only confirms presence/absence.
- India's Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023 streamlines access procedures for biological resources, which may facilitate collaborative eDNA research involving international institutions.
- eDNA has been successfully used to detect Great Indian Bustard presence in degraded grasslands and Gangetic river dolphins in turbid water.
Connection to this news: The CCMB-LaCONES application of eDNA in the Eastern Ghats represents a frontier approach to biodiversity auditing — directly relevant to UPSC questions on modern conservation techniques and India's biodiversity protection framework.
Conservation Genomics and Landscape Connectivity
Conservation genomics applies genomic sequencing tools to understand the genetic health of wild populations — identifying inbreeding, local adaptation, population fragmentation, and hybridisation. In fragmented ecosystems like the Eastern Ghats, genomic data can reveal "genetic corridors" between isolated hill blocks, informing decisions about where to establish protected areas, wildlife corridors, or ecological restoration zones. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has used population genomics for tiger, leopard, and snow leopard conservation planning in the Western Ghats and Central Indian landscapes. Integrating genomic data with landscape-level variables (habitat connectivity, human land-use) into spatial conservation planning — as proposed in the Eastern Ghats roadmap — is called landscape genomics.
- India's Protected Area network covers ~5.3% of its land area (162 National Parks, 700+ Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves, Conservation/Community Reserves).
- The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017–2031) identifies corridors between fragmented forests as a priority conservation intervention.
- Project Tiger and Project Elephant have relied on landscape-level connectivity science; applying genomics would add genetic dimension to this planning.
- The 30×30 global biodiversity target (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, 2022) requires India to protect 30% of its land and ocean by 2030 — genomic baselines are essential to track progress.
- Simlipal-Satkosia-Pilibhit corridor proposals in Odisha and the Northern Eastern Ghats landscape are areas where this roadmap could directly inform policy.
Connection to this news: The genomic roadmap methodology — combining eDNA, sequencing, and landscape analysis — provides a replicable scientific framework for meeting India's conservation commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Key Facts & Data
- Symposium: "Discerning the Eastern Ghats: From Genes to Landscapes," CSIR-CCMB/LaCONES, Hyderabad, February 18–21, 2026.
- Eastern Ghats: discontinuous range, ~1,750 km, across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, with outliers in WB/JH/CG.
- Highest peak: Arma Konda (~1,680 m), Andhra Pradesh.
- Key endemic species: Eastern Ghats slender loris, Jerdon's courser, multiple endemic plants.
- Major rivers crossing the Ghats: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
- India's PA network: ~5.3% of land area; 162 National Parks, 700+ Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- Kunming-Montreal GBF (2022): 30×30 target — protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030.
- eDNA technique: detects species from environmental samples (water/soil); used for presence/absence assessment.
- Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023: streamlined access procedures for biological resources.