The Western Ghats in the south of India have forests which are, for some plant species, their exclusive home on this earth. No wonder then, that Western bioprospectors have their eyes set on these forests due to their exquisite quality. But the apparent image -- that the forests have always been there, and shall always remain there -- is only a tourist's misconception. These forests are extremely fragile, with a complex pattern of survival. And there might come a time when they will vanish. Already, many developmental projects with devastating impacts -- the Cogentrix power plant, for example -- have been given the green signal. And unless we take steps now, the forests of the Western Ghats might just be in the red