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Urban biodiversity in India is experiencing significant loss due to various factors associated with rapid urbanization and environmental degradation. Bengaluru, once ‘India’s Garden City’ in the truest sense, is becoming a concretised jungle now. The city’s transformation has led to the destruction of urban forests, orchards, and agricultural fields. These have been replaced by concrete structures, severely impacting its local biodiversity. Similar cases of loss of urban biodiversity have been witnessed in cases of urban cities like Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
In this article, we will look at what constitutes Urban Biodiversity, the significance of maintaining urban biodiversity, the challenges in maintaining urban biodiversity, the initiatives for it and the way forward in maintaining Urban Biodiversity in India.
What is Urban Biodiversity? What are the examples of well maintained Urban Biodiversity in India?
Urban Biodiversity- Urban biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms found in Urban areas, and their interactions within urban environments. It encompasses the genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity found in cities and their surroundings.
Examples of Well Maintained Urban Biodiversity in India
| Chennai | Chennai’s efforts to restore and maintain its wetlands, such as the Pallikaranai Marsh, have led to increased biodiversity. These wetlands provide habitat for various bird species, amphibians, and aquatic plants. This has contributed to the ecological balance in the urban landscape. |
| Delhi | The Delhi Ridge acts as a green lung for the city, supporting diverse flora and fauna. Initiatives to protect and enhance this area have helped to maintain a variety of native species, including birds and mammals, amidst urban pressures. |
| Mumbai | Mumbai has a thriving biodiverse protected forest, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, within its city limits. Further, its coastal areas, including mangroves and salt marshes, have been recognized for their biodiversity. |
Examples of Well Maintained Urban Biodiversity Internationally
| Singapore | The extensive green infrastructure, vertical gardens, green roofs, and parks of Singapore support a rich diversity of plant and animal species. Singapore is a model for urban biodiversity. |
| Medellin | Medellin in Colombia, created a network of green corridors which led to cleaner air and a drop in two degrees of temperature in the city. |
| Vancouver | Vancouver has implemented policies to protect its natural areas and promote biodiversity. |
What is the need for conservation of Urban Biodiversity?
1. Increased Carbon Emissions- According to WEF report, cities contribute nearly 80% to the global economy, but they also account for nearly three-fourths of greenhouse gas emissions. For ex- Increased emissions from Urban centres of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru.
2. Economic Impact due to biodiversity Loss- According to WEF report, around 44% of global GDP in cities ($31 trillion) is estimated to be at risk of disruption from biodiversity losses.
3. Creation of ‘Micro-Climates’ and Urban Heat Islands (UHI)- The loss of green cover results in reduction of potential for evaporative cooling and increases the net heat stored in the urban environment. This results in the development of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), thus developing a peculiar ‘micro-climate’ in and around urban landscape. For ex- Thermal and Urban Heat wave stress in India.
4. Decrease in disaster resilience- Unplanned, explosive and brazen concretised development has resulted in loss of essential urban ecology, severely impacting the natural disaster management potential of urban cities in India. For ex- Chennai Flood of 2015 was exacerbated due to loss of natural wetlands of the city.
What are the benefits of well maintained Urban Biodiversity?
Ecological Benefits
1. Mitigation of Urban Heat Island effect- Urban flora can help to improve the air quality by cooling and cleaning the air, reducing smog, ground-level ozone and greenhouse effect. They help in mitigating the heat island effect by giving green lungs to cities.
2. Carbon Sequestration- Urban forests help in sequestering huge amounts of carbon by capturing carbon dioxide from atmosphere.
3. Increase in Biodiversity- Trees and forests present in urban areas provide shelter and habitat to many important animals, especially avifauna.
4. Management of Urban Hydrological Cycle- Urban forests play key roles in supporting water management in and around urban settlements through water provisioning, regulating, recharging and filtering role.
Social Benefits
1. Checking Haphazard Urbanization- Urban forests help in checking rapid and unplanned urbanization; and development of slums by demarcating city limits and industrial spaces.
2. Aesthetic Benefits- Urban trees enhance the beauty and environmental quotient of the city by increasing the aesthetic quality of residential streets and community parks. For ex- Award of ‘World Green City Award 2022’ to Hyderabad.
3. Improves Mental Alertness And Reduce Stress- Green areas reduce stress and improve physical health for urban residents while providing spaces for people to interact. Green parks also provide a break from the busy, tiring, often repetitive and tedious routine jobs for urban population.
4. Education- Urban forests in the form of parks, botanical gardens, zoological gardens, avenue trees and other urban green spaces are centres of education on flora and fauna.
5. Cultural Regeneration- Urban green spaces help in the enhancement of cultural activities by providing venues for local festivals, civic celebrations, political gatherings and theatrical performances. For ex- Celebration of Vat-savitri pooja in the Urban Centres of Bihar.
Economic Benefits
1. Real estate prices- Landscaping with trees– in yards, in parks and greenways, along streets, and in shopping centres- help in increasing property values and providing commercial benefits.
2. Employment- Tree planting and maintenance in urban forests is labour intensive and provides work opportunities for urban poor.
3. Reduction of energy consumption- Urban forest offers significant benefits in reducing building air-conditioning demand and reducing energy consumption.
What initiatives have been taken in India for increasing green cover in the Urban areas?
| Nagar Van Udyan Program | This initiative aims to develop 200 Nagar Vans (City Forests) across India. It focuses on engaging local communities, educational institutions, and organizations to establish and maintain these urban forests. |
| Smart Cities Mission | Under the Smart Cities Mission, many cities have incorporated green cover enhancement as part of their urban planning. |
| National Mission for Green India | This mission is part of the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) and aims to enhance the quality of forest cover and increase tree cover in urban areas. |
| Urban Afforestation Programs | Various state and local governments have initiated urban afforestation programs aimed at increasing tree cover in cities. For ex- Pune’s Urban Forest Garden Project and the implementation of Miyawaki method in India. |
| Urban Greening Guidelines | The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has issued Urban Greening Guidelines that outline standards for green spaces in urban planning. (Minimum green cover of 12% to 18% in urban areas) |
What Should be the Way Forward?
1. Reintegration of nature in the planning decisions of the cities- Cities must reintegrate nature into their planning decisions. For ex- Preservation of natural habitats, renaturing degraded land through community-based tree planting.
2. Reintroduction of native plants- The protection of forests and the reintroduction of native plants and organisms help in encouraging the restoration of original ecosystems.
3. Systems approach- Cities must embrace a ‘systems approach’ to urban governance that considers the needs of all stakeholders and accounts for the value of natural ecosystems.
4. Development of green corridors- Creation of green corridors through the Miyawaki method in Urban areas will help in reaping the benefits of climate change mitigation. For ex- The network of green corridors in Medellin in Colombia.
5. Attracting investments- We must take action to make nature an attractive investment to financial markets and drive private funding into cities’ natural capital.
| Read More- The Indian Express UPSC Syllabus- GS 3- Environment protection and conservation |
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