Abstract: The status of tropical rainforest and forest of the Western Ghats is reviewed and the major differences between earlier beliefs and the new findings by Dutch, German, and UNESCO research bodies on the functioning of the tropical rainforest ecodystem are elucidated. The reason for the forest degradation in the Westren Ghats during the past decades; the extent of the forest area under ecological stress; and the measures taken by the forest department of the Karnataka, North Kanara circle, towards improving forest vegetation through plantation programmes are also reviewed.