ENVIS Technical Report: 95,  August 2015

DETRIMENTAL LANDUSE CHANGES IN AGARA-BELLANDUR WETLAND
   T.V. Ramachandra1,2,*      Vinay .S1  Bharath H. Aithal1

1Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012
2Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Centre for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CiSTUP)
*Corresponding author: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in, energy@ces.iisc.ernet.in [080-22933099]

Citation: Ramachandra T V, Vinay S and Bharath H.Aithal, 2015.  Detrimental landuse changes in Agara-Belllandur wetland, ENVIS Technical Report 95, CES, IISc, Bangalore, India
WETLANDS - VITAL FOR BANALOREANS

Wetlands are the kidneys of landscape and are vital for human survival. Wetlands are most productive environments; cradles of biological diversity that provide the water and productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival; help in remediation - bioremediation. The wetlands perform various ecological functions such as:

  1. Wetlands act as kidneys of the landscape – aids in water purification (by uptake of nutrients and heavy metals).
  2. Provide wide range of ecosystem services such as food, fiber and waste assimilation.
  3. Support large biological diversity.
  4. Maintain stream flow, mitigate floods, and control erosion.
  5. Recharge ground water.
  6. Regulate microclimate.
  7. Mitigate floods and loss to human life s and properties
  8. Enhance the aesthetics of the landscape and support many significant recreational, social, and cultural activities, aside from being a part of our cultural heritage

Wetlands are indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services” that they provide humanity, ranging from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation.

 

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