Wester Ghats Conservation: Eco park or gene pool? Environmentalists say it can't be both

Originally a conservation initiative to protect the Western Ghats' biodiversity, the Gene Pool Eco Park in Nadugani faced closure before being revived. It now balances research and eco-tourism, housing numerous plant species. However, environmentalists worry that increased tourism could threaten the fragile ecosystem it aims to protect, highlighting the need for broader biosphere reserve inclusion.