Renowned Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil, a pioneer in environmental science and conservation, has passed away at 83 in Pune. Gadgil was widely recognized for his leadership of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) and his advocacy for community-driven conservation. His seminal 2011 report on the Western Ghats, though controversial and largely unimplemented, highlighted ecological sensitivities and warned of development-related disasters. He founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc Bengaluru and received numerous accolades, including the UN's Champions of the Earth award.