Introduction

The WG is one among 36 global biodiversity hotspots (https://www.conservation.org/) and 8 hottest hotspots of biodiversity ( https://www.iucn.org/) with the exceptional endemic flora and fauna. The region is endowed with 4,600+ species of flowering plants (38% endemics), 330 butterflies (11% endemics), 156 reptiles (62% endemics), 508 birds (4% endemics), 120 mammals (12% endemics), 289 fishes (41% endemics) and 135 amphibians (75% endemics). It covers an area of approximately 160,000 sq. km and extends from 8° N to 21° N latitudes and 73° E to 77° E longitudes. It is considered as a water tower of India due to numerous streams originates and draining millions of hectares. The rivers of WG sustains water ensuring water and food security of 245+ million people in the peninsular Indian states. WG has 261 persons per square kilometer located in six states under such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujrat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Union Territory). The region has tropical evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, scrub jungles, sholas, savannas including the high rainfall savannas of which 10% of the forest area is under protection legally. The region has 261 persons per square kilometer density of population. Areca nut, coconut, coffee, tea, rubber, spices, paddy, sugarcane, cereals, cotton are major agriculture and horticulture products grown across the regions.

The current issue of Sahyadri E News (Sahyadri E News LXXXIII) presents the fauna diversity in Goa, which is located in central western Ghats and the eastern part of Goa is covered with the Western Ghats. The faunal diversity of Goa is documented by (i) reviewing literature, (ii) field surveys, and (ii) assessing conservation status and endemism through compilation of information from data portals such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Biodiversity Portal, the Zoological Survey of India, etc. A total of 1882 species belong to 289 families, including terrestrial and aquatic species were recorded. The study records mammalian species with 86 species under 32 families, avian species with 485 species under 84 families, reptile species with 101 species under 19 families, 29 amphibian species under eight families, 693 insect species under 61 families, 206 arthropod species under 32 families, 114 fish species under 41 families, and 68 crab species under 12 families. This issue also presents causal factors of recurring instances of human and wildlife. Forest degradation leading to loss of fodder, fruits and water are the prime cause for animals to stray into human habitations. This emphasizes the need for evolving appropriate management strategies to prevent degradation of forests.