IIT Indore develops tool to monitor climate risks:Tracks drought; rainfall trends across India’s key biodiversity areas

Researchers at IIT Indore have developed a new application to monitor extreme rainfall and drought patterns across India’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), aiming to support conservation efforts and improve climate resilience. The initiative has been led by Prof. Manish Kumar Goyal along with his research team, including Vijay Jain from the Department of Civil Engineering. The application identifies hotspots of extreme precipitation and drought, and provides historical data to help policymakers and conservationists make informed decisions. Tracks climate risks across biodiversity hotspots India has over 600 Key Biodiversity Areas spread across diverse ecosystems. Many of these fall within the country’s four major biodiversity hotspots. However, climate change and human activities are increasing the risk of species extinction. Regions like the Western Ghats face high population pressure, while the Himalayan region is warming faster than the global average, making conservation efforts more urgent. What are Key Biodiversity Areas Key Biodiversity Areas are sites that play a critical role in the global survival of species and ecosystems. These may include habitats with rare or unique species, or areas essential for breeding and ecological balance. KBAs can be found in forests, wetlands, deserts, mountains, and even marine environments. A site is designated as a KBA if it meets at least one of five criteria, including threatened biodiversity, restricted species presence, ecological integrity, biological processes, and irreplaceability. Climate change impacting ecosystems Changing climate patterns are altering habitats and affecting the survival and behaviour of plant and animal species. Many species are shifting to new areas due to variations in temperature and rainfall. Extreme rainfall events can damage ecosystems by causing floods, uprooting vegetation, and reshaping landscapes. Fragile systems like wetlands and forests are particularly at risk. Drought conditions further worsen the situation by reducing water availability, affecting vegetation, and disrupting food chains. This impacts both resident and migratory species. Tool uses long-term data for better planning The application tracks precipitation extremes and drought patterns at the district level across India, using historical data from 1951 to 2022. It enables better understanding of long-term climate trends and supports evidence-based conservation strategies. Prof. Manish Kumar Goyal said, To address growing climate concerns, we have developed a district-level monitoring application that tracks historical precipitation extremes and drought patterns from 1951 to 2022. By helping understand changing climate trends and supporting evidence-based conservation actions, this tool marks an important step toward protecting India’s rich biodiversity from climate-related risks.