On the Malabar Coast of southern India, along the Arabian Sea, lies a range of mountains known as the Western Ghats, or Sahyadris. Far more ancient than the larger and better-known Himalayas to the north, the Sahyadris harbour the most intact rainforests in peninsular India. Countless species of plants and animals live here, many of which are found nowhere else on earth, and countless of which are still being discovered. Matching this incredible biological richness is the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Western Ghats. This book takes you on a visual journey through one of the last great places on earth - a place to be cherished, a wild heritage to be preserved for generations to come.

Researched and compiled by Pradeep Hegde and Sathya Chandra Sagar H S (Batch 2012 – 15) BSc. Department of Life Sciences Christ University, Bengaluru. Published by the Center for Publications, Christ University, Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560029, India [email protected]

With a landscape as diverse as the multitude of people that inhabit it, India hosts a wide range of communities, from remote villages nestled in the Himalayas to thriving urban centers. In many ways, it is a land of contrasts, as reflected in its geography—shaped as much by the annual monsoon season as the arid deserts that punctuate the nation. In this volume, readers will experience a juxtaposed journey, visiting both areas that have remained untouched for centuries and areas of technological advancement that have brought the country to the forefront of innovation.

One of the principal aims in writing this book pertains to the increasing impact of human influence on natural habitats in recent years, more notably to the loss of habitat quality. Increased urbanization, considerable reduction in natural forest areas, changing ecology of fresh water ecosystems, lakes and wet lands, besides changing microhabitats, have had their impact on insect populations. A wide range of responses exist among several species of insects living in these changing environments, more especially landscape dynamics creating a shifting mosaic of habitats. Sudden changes in the extent or quality of habitat tend to influence the behaviour, reproduction and survival of individuals. In very rare cases the existence of a particular species depends on the presence of some other species, not to mention of the extinction of food chains. As such, a basic understanding of the nature of habitat loss and fragmentation and their impact on insect species dynamics become important. Numerous questions are raised about patterns and timing of the evolution of insect-plant association which are essential for an understanding as to ``why the world is the world as it is today''. In this effort several specialists on diverse aspects have generously rendered assistance through providing literature and photographs and while appreciating their generosity, we would like to thank them individually for all the assistance rendered without which the production of this volume would be impossible.

The Eastern Himalaya -- land of Gods, of ancient mountain kingdoms, of icy peaks and alpine meadows -- is like no other place on Earth. The life and landscapes of the region are as diverse, spectacular, and fragile as the mountains themselves. Even today, these mountains hold many mysteries: unnamed species, primeval cultures, and the promise of magical cures to heal all of humanity. This book takes us on a journey of biocultural discovery -- from the great canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo and the Siang Gorge in the east to the Kali Ganda ki Gorge in the west. Along the way, the book demonstrates, in breathtaking imagery and words, why the preservation of this heritage is so important -- not just for us, but for the future of all life on Earth.

The main focus of this book is sustainable management of water resources in a changing climate. The book also addresses the question of how to define and measure the sustainability of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The sustainability of IWRM is an important issue when planning and/or developing policies that consider the impact of climate change, water governance and ecohydrology in the context of a more holistic approach to ensure sustainable management of water resources. Sustainable IWRM is more about processes, and relatively little systematic or rigorous work has been done to articulate what components are the most essential to ensure the ongoing sustainability of IWRM efforts. The chapters cover topics including global prospective of IWRM; allocation of environmental flows in IWRM; echohydrology, water resources and environmental sustainability; climate change and IWRM; IWRM and water governance including social, economic, public health and cultural aspects; climate change resiliency actions related to water resources management sustainability and tools in support of sustainability for IWRM. This book will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, water resources mangers, policy and decision makers, donors, international institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, educators, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. It is a useful reference for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), ecohydrology, climate change impact and adaptations, water governance, environmental flows, geographic information system and modeling tools, water and energy nexus and related topics.