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Scientists outline genomic-based conservation roadmap for Eastern Ghats

March 03, 2026 4 min read Environment & Ecology GS3 (Biodiversity Conservation Biotechnology)
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What Happened

  • Scientists have outlined a genomic-based conservation roadmap for wildlife in India's Eastern Ghats, integrating genetic data with landscape ecology to identify priority conservation zones and address region-specific biodiversity threats.
  • The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) organised a major initiative titled "Discerning the Eastern Ghats — From Genes to Landscapes" in 2026, bringing together researchers across ecology, conservation genomics, biogeography, landscape ecology, and hydrology.
  • The roadmap addresses fragmented habitat, poorly documented species diversity, and climate-driven change across the discontinuous hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats.
  • The work highlights the Eastern Ghats as a biodiversity-rich but research-neglected region compared to the Western Ghats, with unique endemic species facing increasing pressures.

Static Topic Bridges

Conservation Genomics: Concept and Applications

Conservation genomics is an applied field that uses genomic tools — high-throughput DNA sequencing, population genetics, and phylogeography — to inform wildlife conservation decisions. It identifies genetically distinct populations, measures inbreeding and genetic diversity, maps gene flow corridors, and detects hybridisation. Unlike traditional morphological surveys, genomic approaches can reveal cryptic species (genetically distinct but morphologically similar), quantify population viability, and prioritise which subpopulations are most irreplaceable. In India, conservation genomics is increasingly being applied to tigers, leopards, elephants, vultures, and freshwater fish.

  • Minimum Viable Population (MVP) estimates can be refined using genomic effective population size (Ne) rather than census counts alone.
  • Landscape genomics connects genetic variation in populations to physical landscape features (forest corridors, rivers, elevation), enabling corridor prioritisation.
  • The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and CCMB are among the leading institutions applying genomics to Indian wildlife.
  • A new gecko species, Hemidactylus kalinga sp. nov., endemic to the northern Eastern Ghats, was formally described in early 2026 — illustrating ongoing species discovery through taxonomic and genomic work.

Connection to this news: The Eastern Ghats roadmap applies landscape genomics at a regional scale, mapping gene flow across the fragmented hill ranges to identify which forest patches function as critical connectivity nodes for wide-ranging species.

Eastern Ghats: Ecology and Biodiversity Profile

The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of hills extending along India's eastern coast across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, with isolated outliers in Chhattisgarh. Unlike the unbroken escarpment of the Western Ghats (a recognised global biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Eastern Ghats are fragmented by major river valleys (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery) — making landscape connectivity a central conservation challenge. The region supports tropical dry and moist deciduous forests, scrublands, and major tribal communities with strong forest-use traditions.

  • The Eastern Ghats are NOT formally designated as a biodiversity hotspot under the IUCN/Conservation International framework, unlike the Western Ghats — though they harbour high endemism.
  • Key flagship species of conservation concern: India's endemic olive ridley turtles nest on Eastern Ghats coastal zones; the region hosts populations of tigers, leopards, gaur, sloth bears, and the critically endangered great Indian bustard (at fringes).
  • Major threats: habitat fragmentation from mining (bauxite, iron ore), infrastructure expansion (highways, dams), agricultural encroachment, and invasive species.
  • The Eastern Ghats overlap with Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts, complicating conventional wildlife surveys and patrol-based protection.

Connection to this news: The genomic roadmap addresses the Eastern Ghats' fragmented geography directly — identifying which fragments retain population connectivity and which are becoming genetically isolated, informing both Protected Area management and corridor restoration priorities.

Biodiversity Conservation Frameworks in India

India's wildlife conservation architecture rests on the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides for National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 governs access to biological resources and benefit sharing under the Nagoya Protocol. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) oversees biodiversity regulation, while State Biodiversity Boards and local Biodiversity Management Committees implement the Act at the grassroots. India's National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) is periodically updated; the current NBAP is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (adopted 2022), which set the 30x30 target (protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030).

  • India has 106 National Parks, 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries, and 100+ Conservation and Community Reserves (as of 2024).
  • The Eastern Ghats region has several PAs: Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Papikonda National Park, Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (Odisha), among others.
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Section 36 mandates documentation through People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) at local body level — important for recording species in under-surveyed areas like the Eastern Ghats.
  • The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, is significant for the Eastern Ghats, given high tribal population density.

Connection to this news: The genomic roadmap complements the legal conservation framework by providing scientific evidence to designate new Conservation Reserves, modify PA boundaries, and prioritise wildlife corridor notifications under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

Key Facts & Data

  • Eastern Ghats span: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka (discontinuous hill ranges).
  • Lead institution: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad — organised 2026 multi-disciplinary initiative.
  • New species discovery: Hemidactylus kalinga sp. nov. (gecko), endemic to northern Eastern Ghats, described early 2026.
  • Eastern Ghats biodiversity threats: mining (bauxite, iron ore), habitat fragmentation, infrastructure, LWE-affected regions limiting survey access.
  • Key conservation instrument: Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
  • Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022): 30x30 target — protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.
  • Genomics tools used: population genetics, landscape genomics, phylogeography, effective population size (Ne) estimation.