.The mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. Its high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern. Moderating the tropical climate of the region, it presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system in the planet. The area also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. It is recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species. Considering all the above, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has inscribed serial sites of the Western Ghats in the World Heritage Natural Sites List.
The areas of Western Ghats portion of Kerala included in the World Heritage Site are as follows:
- Agasthyamalai Sub Cluster
- Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
- Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kulathupuzha Range
- Palode Range
- Periyar Sub Cluster
- Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Ranni Division
- Konni Division
- Achencovil Division
- Anamalai Sub Cluster
- Eravikulam National Park
- Mankulam Division
- Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Mannavan Shola
- Karian shola
- Nilgiri Sub Cluster
- Silent Valley National Park
- New Amarambalam Reserve Forests
- Kalikavu Range
- Attappady Reserve Forests.
- Thalakkavery Sub Cluster
- Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary