An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living environment in a specific area.
An ecosystem has interconnectedness and interdependence and a healthy ecosystem provides sufficient resources and energy for all living beings.
The size of an ecosystem can vary. It can be anything from a pond to a forest to even our entire planet.
The term "ecosystem" was first coined by Sir Arthur George Tansley, an English botanist and ecologist, in 1935. He introduced it in a paper published in the journal Ecology, where he described it as a system that includes both living organisms and their physical environment, interacting as a whole.
BENGALURU’S ECOSYSTEM
Bengaluru was once celebrated as the “Garden City’. But today, it’s struggling to retain its greenery in the face of rapid urbanisation.
Over the past three decades, there have been dramatic changes in the city’s ecosystems, reflecting the challenges of balancing conservation with development.
- In the late 19th century, Bengaluru had thousands of lakes and reservoirs. The area of water bodies has shrunk from 2,324 hectares in 1973 to just 696 hectares in 2023. Their number is now around 200, with many either encroached upon, polluted, or dried up due to unchecked urban sprawl. There are only around 20 good and functional lakes in the city.
- In 1973, nearly 70% of the city was covered in greenery. But, by 2023, it plummeted to less than 7%, with urbanised areas expanding by over 1,055% since 1973.
- Forest cover has dropped from 288.48 sq. km in 2021 to 89.02 sq. km in 2023, a loss of nearly 200 sq. km in just two years.
- The city has become warmer too. Bengaluru has seen an increase of around 1.5 degrees C in its average temperature over the past 20 years.
WHY THE DECLINE
The surge in population is one reason. The projected figure of population of the metropolitan area today is about 14.4 million up from 8.5 million in 2011.
Economically too the city has grown.
- Bengaluru has 44% of the nation's unicorn startups as of 2020.
- The city is home to over 5,500 IT/ITES companies and nearly 750 multinational corporations.
- The IT sector alone accounts for over 24% of Karnataka's GDP.
- From 2014 to 2023, Bengaluru added 80 million square feet of Grade A office space, creating approximately 800,000 prime jobs — the highest among Indian cities.
THE MOOT QUESTION
Quite evidently, the environmental ecosystem seems to be paying the price for the advancement of the economic ecosystem.
Should one be at the cost of the other? Can’t both move forward hand in hand?
(This post is part of the A to Z Challenge. The theme is environment)
This is heart breaking, it's not good for the environment or the people.
ReplyDeleteThere should a balance between environmental and economic evosystems. The government should think of creating self sufficient satellite towns a little away from Bengaluru and move the IT related offices. There should be a firm no to additional burden on the city.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteThose big business ought to be 'tithed' in some manner to gain funding for maintenance and renewal of the natural ecology of the city which is bringing forth such economic benefit to them. But as we know, it seems the more money one has, the more one gets away with things......... YAM xx
I am an expert. All i would suggest is the Government should encourage IT companies to move away from Bangalore city. Sridar Vembu did that in Tamil Nadu. All others should follow him.
ReplyDeleteSorry. Typo. I am not an expert.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, it is sad the destruction some businesses and people can do to the environment
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - these posts are great - it's good for us to be informed about what's happening in another country - yours in this instance. Challenging times for us all - looking forward to more - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThis post is so telling, sir. It's sad to see the greenery of this beautiful city fading fast.
ReplyDeleteThose numbers are shocking. And sad. I would much rather live in a city that is referred to as "garden city" than in a modern-looking place with no water and greenery...
ReplyDeleteThe Multicolored Diary
I'm a little fearful that all the new housing and businesses here will wipe out green spaces, but it's nothing like what you've shared. ~hangs head~ Best wishes, my dear.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible. And it seems to be happening everywhere. You're right. There should be a way to grow cities without destroying the nature around them. Sadly, those building the cities are more interested in doing it cheaply, not how they're impacting the environment.
ReplyDeleteIt would nice to think that both could move along in harmony, but that's being idealistic. What must happen is for governments and authorities to slow and hopefully stop the excesses of 'progress'.
ReplyDelete