Finding Home in Concrete Jungle

Urbanization has brought with it a new phenomenon – the sight of monkeys lounging on power lines and leopards prowling the streets of India; coyotes venturing into urban neighbourhoods of the United States; kangaroos hopping along suburban streets of Australia. The impact of this unprecedented wave of urbanization is not only limited to fauna – fauna the relentless expansion of cities resulting in the loss of natural habitats has led to a significant decline in the number of plant species as well. Are we ready to jeopardize our rich biodiversity in the name of global development?

As settlements become more fragmented, urbanization is generating a ‘ripple effect’ – not only directly affecting flora and fauna but also ecosystems farther away – leading to loss of genetic diversity and increased exposure to environmental stressors. The effects of urbanization and habitat fragmentation have also resulted in challenges to insect populations, who, despite their important ecological roles, are often overlooked in conservation efforts, with a focus on larger, charismatic species. While urbanization, energy development, and wildlife protection have long been viewed as opposing forces, it is essential to figure out sustainable ways to make them mutually inclusive concepts.

One sustainable solution is building ‘ecological corridors’ in urban settlements to enable the dispersal movement of animals. This includes features like green streets, urban forests, etc. designed to promote connectivity between natural areas and urban environments. ‘Eco-floats’, floating islands covered in vegetation, a concept primarily developed and implemented in the Netherlands, is an innovative example of a solution that mitigates the effect of urbanization on aquatic ecosystems while also providing aesthetic and recreational benefits to people.

Sustainable energy is yet another effort to protect wildlife. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, climate change is the biggest threat to biodiversity, with an estimated one million plant and animal species at risk of extinction due to climate change impacts. Sustainable energy sources help in generating electricity without emitting greenhouse gases and help reduce the rate of global warming and minimize its detrimental impact on wildlife. Made using a combination of green vegetation and photovoltaic cells, ‘Biosolar roofs’ in Germany is an interesting example that utilizes renewable energy to generate green space in urban areas. The plants on the roof serve as a habitat for displaced birds while also helping to cool the building to reduce the urban heat island effect, benefitting wildlife species that are sensitive to high temperatures.

It is essential for us to acknowledge the indispensable contribution of the unsung heroes of urban ecosystems – insects. Without them, our cities would be barren, polluted, and overrun by pests. Several indigenous communities in India have been working towards insect conservation as a part of their efforts for wildlife conservation. The Bishnoi community in Rajasthan has been preserving sacred groves for centuries. Sacred groves are a unique cultural and ecological feature of India that have been playing a crucial role in insect conservation. Researchers and scientists have documented its importance for years. According to a study by the Indian National Science Academy, sacred groves in the Western Ghats region of India support a higher diversity of butterfly species compared to adjacent agricultural areas.

As a community, we must ask ourselves some critical questions. How can we balance the need for development with the preservation of our precious biodiversity? Are we willing to take innovative and daring steps to protect our flora and fauna from the impact of urbanization? Are we ready to prioritize the conservation of all species, including the small yet essential insects that thrive in urban ecosystems? These questions require our immediate attention and demand action. Let us join hands and work towards creating a sustainable and inclusive future that benefits all species, big and small.

References

1. United Nations Environment Programme. (2019). Climate change and biodiversity. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/resources/report/climate-change-and-biodiversity

2. Indian National Science Academy. (2011). Conservation of butterflies in sacred groves of Meghalaya and Sikkim Himalaya. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285159235_Conservation_of_butterflies_in_sacred_groves_of_Meghalaya_and_Sikkim_Himalaya

3. Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S. E., Fetzer, I., Bennett, E. M., ... & Folke, C. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science, 347(6223), 1259855. doi: 10.1126/science.1259855

4. Netherlands Enterprise Agency. (2021). Nature-inclusive design of eco-floats. Retrieved from https://english.rvo.nl/sites/default/files/2021/03/ENRNC16127%20Nature-inclusive%20design%20of%20eco-floats.pdf

5. Semple, C., & Hinchliffe, S. (2019). The importance of insects and insect conservation: A UK perspective. The Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 5(2), 69-76. doi: 10.3920/JIFF2019.0007