BENGALURU: The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, is a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of India. Experts call them the lifeline of peninsular India that constitutes the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Climate change that followed the rampant destruction of land, river, forests and hills in the Western Ghats, has led to disastrous implications in Karnataka. The desertification of land has already started in the state, say experts. The Western Ghats act as a crucial source of water for the major rivers in peninsular India, including the Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, and smaller rivers. Western Ghats are recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Many species found in the Western Ghats are endemic.