The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) has designated the entire hill range as an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/%E2%80%98entire-western-ghats-ecologically-sensitive
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/ks-sudhi
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/hindu-new-delhi
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/western-ghats
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ecology
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/kerala
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/karnataka
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/hydroelectricity
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/biodiversity
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/health-effects
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/industrial-pollution
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/thermal-power-plants
[13] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/coal
[14] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/sindhudurg
[15] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/maharashtra
[16] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/goa
[17] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/environment-act-1986
[18] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ministry-environment-and-forests-moef
[19] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ratnagiri-d
[20] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/mining
[21] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/environment