Acknowledgement
I would like to thank and express my gratitude towards various experts, architects, environmentalist, activist, bird watchers, and villagers who have helped me in exploring the wetlands of ujani , kumbharwadi, Bhigwan, indapur, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Mr. Sandeep Nagare – a local guide, resident, pioneer keen birdwatcher of kumbharwadi, helped me understand the real issues of the villagers and helped getting through village talking to villagers knowing their views and opinions about the current pattern of development and their ideas, aspirations of wetland conservation.
Mr. Yuvraj Patil- a well-known wildlife photographer based in Pune , helped me developing interest in the topic with birds and wildlife as a focus of study. And helped my getting contacts from kumbharwadi village.
Mr. Sachin Punekar: politician, PhD socialist and activist from Pune helped me understand the density of this wetland in Maharashtra with respect to larger landscape of the region of connected wetland link.
Ar. Umesh Waghela: Environmentalist and practicing architect helped me understand the effects of build environment and urban fabric on the wetland and its psychological impact of the same on visitors and villagers.
Ar. Mohan Rao : Practicing landscape architect from Bangalore explained me the way to go about this research and help me understand various aspects in wetland conservation activity through his talks at PVPCOA and FEED, and extended talks in car during the travel to airport.
Ar. Ujwala Palsule : architect and previous guide for my topic helped me understand the depth of topic and channelized my thoughts about this research.
Ar. Prerana Shetty : architect and Research guide for the topic helped me formulate and structure the research paper. Her inputs, references helped me completing this research successfully.
In course of my journey, which itself was so eventful. I might have missed some people in this list I thank them as well.
UNDERSTANDING PARAMETERS OF APPROACHING THE WETLANDS AS A SUSTAINABLE ECOLOGY
Gapchoop Viraj Dinesh
VIT’s PVP collage of architecture,
Pune. (SPPU, Pune.)
Abstract
Water is one of the crucial determinant and formative element in all aspects of life. Humans, as they cannot survive without water, have always inhabited the places that are close to easily accessible water sources and have chosen, designed the settlement accordingly. Together with other geological and natural factors, water factor is the most effective on determining itineraries, forming paths and the roads that connect our habitats.
A close examination of the precious wetland ecosystem reveals meticulously interwoven maze of transactions between human and ecology to balance the intervention. Water is the source of life, the sustenance for living Wetland at Bhigwan generate economics and is zone supporting various ecological, traditional, religious, commercial, recreational, transportation, community based activities. If wetlands and ecological habitats are to be conserved, the dependently arising communities need to be conserved. This paper will help us understand parameters of approaching the wetlands as a sustainable ecology. Keywords: Bhigwan, Wetland, community, habitat, tourism.
Introduction
Traditionally, water was seen as a responsibility of citizens and the community collectively took the responsibility of not only using it wisely but also of maintaining the water bodies. Today, as water pipelines have been provided to each tenement, it has led to the neglect of the water bodies and catchments areas. People are used to receive water at the turn of a tap and are no longer concerned in maintaining water bodies. On the other hand, there is still hope as worried citizens across the country have mutually come to fight to stop this degradation of urban water bodies. Rivers and their associated wetlands and lakes form a chief factor in the landscape. The first is that of an economic nature as provider of sustenance and raw materials, communication, transport, choice of settlement site, business generator and the secondly, ecological a water conservation, biodiversity zone The ethnographic matter is to be drawn from communities based on Bhima River near concerned area of studyKumbhargaon, Bhigwan.
All time, water is evidence of civilization and is accepted as guide and route. Waterfronts have scenery, optimum climate, and fertile soil as agriculture and source as needs. Running and still waters effect on environment at both urban and suburban. (MITSCH & GOSSELINK, 1986. )The effect of this element on the one of the human made functions puts forth to relationship between nature and human. The study emphasizes important of natural factors to designs and plans in our urban and suburban areas. Another aim expresses that the systems made according to the natural factors vital for achieve something in terms of function and aesthetic. At the same time it indicates that the human follows nature knowingly and unknowingly in the developments.
Other than rivers in some way, in many parts of the world no other ecosystem is as important as wetlands in insuring sustainable water resource management. Wetlands are parts of earth’s surface between these terrestrial and aquatic systems. Thus shallow lakes ponds, marshes, bogs, swamps, dead river beds, tanks, borrow pits, are all wetlands irrespective of their extent, duration of water logging, climatic regions in which they exist, their water quality and degree of human intervention. (Ghosh, 2005)
Figure 1 Bhigwan wetlands famous for winter visitors, flamingos
“The term ‘wetland’ refers to lowlands covered with shallow and sometimes temporary or intermittent waters. They are referred to by such names as marshes, swamps, bogs, wet meadows, potholes, sloughs and river overflow lands. Shallow lakes and ponds usually with emergent vegetation as a conspicuous feature are included in the definition, but the Permenant waters of streams, reservoirs and deep lakes are not included.” is one of the earliest definitions of wetlands given by US fish and wildlife service in 1956.
Figure 2 types of wetlands as per RAMSAR definations (Ghosh, 2005)
Figure 3 Various aspects of wetland study. Courtesy: Author
One unique characteristic of wetlands is the presence of water and water-saturated soil. This may again either be a permanent or seasonal feature. During the period of water logging, wetlands should support hydrophytes (HOLLAND, 1987). This ecosystem is a transitional zone between the dry terrestrial and wet aquatic systems, having characteristics of both the systems, as well as some of its own, which are unique. Diversity of character, size, type, and mode of occurrence of wetlands has given rise to different indices of describing them. It should be noted that wetlands have been defined from time to time to suit a particular location and such definitions could be extended and applied to other regions also.
Wetlands have been observed as an outcome of an evolving traditional practice, which is interpreted here by using a subjective tool – ecology. This process has trodden a relatively unknown pasture of knowledge by knowing the perceptual construct of the traditional fishing community of Bhigwan. This people have been able to transact with nature in using wastewater in a much more meaningful way than the mainstream scientific and engineering community could ever do. Living creatively with nature is how the mindset of these local people has been defined and it can be verified in many other ecosystems where people with similar mindset have succeeded in establishing sustainable means and peace of exploiting natural resources.
Urban settlements, with their ancient history, are existing formations that develop and transform constantly. Although there are several economical, transportation and safety problems for their establishment purposes and for the locations where cities were founded, geographical conditions also significantly affect this cause. The most significant elements determining the region where the cities were found is the water.
I would like to study how the water resources affect the humankind settlements and the ecological chain. The relationships, similarities and differences between human activities and ecological events need to be studied to understand the topic in depth.
Figure 4: Temporary settlement around wetlands. Image captured by author
Literature Review
Water demands are increasing rapidly, but water used and societal values placed on water are changing dramatically. Water is the resource of existence, the sustenance for living; the resource needed for manufacturing, fishing, Agriculture; and it provides the habitat for much of our wildlife. Water in current society is more than a simple physical entity, its symbolic values, and non-instrumental uses are growing significantly. As with many local cultures, water is as much a symbol as it is something to pull out and utilize in the manufacturing of commercial products. Questionable and complex issues concerning the water and its purposes are important to be discussed. It is as more about framing the questions regarding symbolic ideals of water. This monograph, taking into account the contemporary environmental issues and curiosity about the ecosystem, need to facilitate research about the wetlands, the surveillance of such traditionally established practices that the East Kolkata Wetlands display and how these wetlands can positively influence the choice of technology, especially wastewater treatment, in the developing / poorer countries with ample sunshine.
Decision-makers, authorities, policy makers may also find this research work of some use for putting it ahead of them an unspoken and hence unheard treaty for its sensible use. In fact, they should directly adapt to the framework of traditional, age old proved, well established wisdom in the field of wastewater management and wetland treatment in particular for sensible sustainable growth. So called ‘Development models’ are undergoing fundamental changes. They are necessary to in-house the significance of nature to keep away the fall down
Figure 5 Wetland conservation needs its own constituency a strong support base. (Ghosh, 2005)
of the whole living system, more specifically- human life. Therefore, Care for nature, has become concerned agenda encircling every government, the United Nations organizations, international banking society, financial resources, conventions, trade union and even military contract. Ecology and economics have never come so close to each other. Yet there is very little research to satisfy this investigator, there exist enough intellectual collaboration in pedagogy proposals combining these two disciplines. Even though the lack of global thinking has affected even the present effort, one hopes that many such efforts may help in consolidating thoughts into theory. Implementable and appropriate guidelines will hopefully be available in coming time, including environmental concerns in development proposals, particularly in the developing countries. Until then we shall keep trying. The task of Ecological interpretation is going to appear as the significant scientific means to help the changeover towards sustainable development of the mass of the worldwide population. Ecological interpretation challenges to bridge the gap between the traditional/ local wisdom are concerning to humankind's connections with nature, and the typical planning and design process. The current effort in ecological interpretation of traditional applications is one of the rare studies which describe the journey of an unknown local knowledge aiming to create national strategy level proposal.
Wetland functions and benefits
The wetlands are frequently assessed from an anthropocentric approach. For evaluation of wetlands, opportunities provided by the wetlands to the human beings are the only measure, which may be sometimes direct, indirect or both. The effectiveness of a wetland can be easily observed from the perspective of flora and fauna it maintains, contribution of wetlands for
Figure 6 Bhigwan satellite image. Source Google maps.
maintaining global air and water cycles, and its ecosystem values. The populations which are getting affected from or thrive on wetlands range from human, waterfowl, aquatic animals, trees, to a host of other micro-organisms. We can cite an extensive list of advantages which man gets from wetlands both directly and indirectly, Wetlands are useful in many activities. Plants provide food, protection, wood, medicinal elements, and a host of other non-edible uses. Animals and birds provide food, oil, fur, skin, feathers, and other items. Wetlands are habitat for rare and endangered species of plants, animals and birds. Wetland eco-system is particularly essential for migratory birds and waders. They are habitats for various endemic, local varieties of sub-species of plants, creatures, and other mammals and wildlife even in otherwise congested industrial regions
Figure 7 Development and conservation as sides of same coin. source (Ghosh, 2005)
When ecosystem is considered wetlands are helpful in nutrient revival and recycling, discharging excess nitrogen, deactivation of phosphates, detoxification, chemicals and heavy metals absorbing using plants, and also in treating wastewater. Removal of suspended solids from flowing water by reducing the flow also facilitates the retention of water for sometime where by biological, physical and chemical changes are made possible. Reduction of siltation in the rivers is achieved due to Retention of sediments in wetlands. Additionally, wetlands do help in controlling floods, recharging aquifers and ground water, wells, and reducing surface run-off and subsequent erosion. (G. E. Hollis, 1988)
Wetlands: misconceptions and misuses
Augmentation of one is usually at the cost of another. Most Valuable ‘products’ of wetlands are public amenities While wetlands do contribute economic reimburse to each individual, mainly through the population values, many of the services of wetlands extend to the public at large. Hence, wetland protection is appropriately in the scope of a representative government working in collaboration with individual private property-owner. The association
between wetland area and inappropriate value is complex Traditional economics holds the universal notion that the less there is of some product, the more precious it is. This is the universal economic law of scarcity. This perception occasionally applies to wetlands. If there are more wetlands in a small area, the adaptation of wetlands to other uses is (wrongly/ easily) mostly viewed as a social necessity for other new uses. In areas, wherever most of the natural wetlands have been drained, the wish for conservation of remaining few wetlands is frequently very strong. Though, the idea of wetland conservation does not always work even in areas where almost most of the natural wetlands have been drained, and where critical verges exist that describe the minimum ecologically tolerable amount of wetlands in a particular region. If wetlands are too small, functions such as support of certain mammals or storage of floodwater no longer exist.
The value of wetlands: significance of scale and setting
Several landscape-scale considerations should be taken into account when ascribing value to wetlands. Normally, a wetland in a setting with moderate but not excessive urban built development and it will have the strongest ecological value because an adequate human population is present to benefit from those values, but the population is not so large as to overwhelm the wetland functions. In a hydro geomorphic setting, flow-through and riparian wetlands have a better chance of having high values than isolated basin wetlands, although caution has to be taken with this generalization. The ecological values of wetlands are based on biological population residing next to it or within the wetlands, the wetland ecosystem itself or the entire biosphere of which wetlands are a small unforgettable part. (William J. Mitsch, 2000)
Research Methods
The "wise use of wetlands” is defined and presented mainly in the background of the evolution of ideas about conservation of wetlands as reflected in the developing concept of ecological reserves. Ideas on the accomplishment of wise use of wetlands are developed through a series of readings. The conference on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) defines wetlands as ‘areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, including areas of marine waters, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters’ and may include ‘riparian zones adjacent to the wetlands, or islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six meters at low tide lying within’. In addition,
wetlands are ecotones since they are transition zones from uplands to deep-water aquatic systems. This transition position also often leads to high diversity in wetlands and has given some wetlands the distinction of being cited as amongst the most productive ecosystems on Earth. (MITSCH & GOSSELINK, 1986. )
Bhigwan is 120 km away from Pune city towards Solapur city. While this research was in progress, 3 site visits were made to understand the site, context and overall condition. The understanding of the site and context to be holistic in nature visits were planned on different seasons and time frames, considering the flow of visitors (people), birds, availability of water in the wetlands and other climatic parameters. People visiting this place have been interviewed with non structured interview to understand their ideas and aspirations about ecological conservations and wetland development programs. This site is being documented thoroughly and the process of declaring the same as Bird wildlife sanctuary is in process. The same site is being reviewed and studied by various ecologists environmentalists, engineers, bird watchers, planners, politicians and wetland experts, activists to declare it as one of the important RAMSAR sites in Maharashtra.
Analysis & Results (
Wetland performs and hence values have the meaning and potential to last for a very long time. So called ‘Modern agriculture’ or industrial/ commercial/ manufacturing/ production activity are usually not sustainable and resource-depleting (soil loss; use of fossil fuels) so the life span of these human-based options is short-lived. Also in large public works project time spans extends over 50–60 years. Importance of this issue is that, when wetlands are getting lost during development, then the loss of activities, functions, relationship with the context and values with the community are rarely possible.
Image source : Ecology Vs Economy (Ghosh, 2005)
Comparing temporary (just) financial gain from a non-wetland commercial use of a piece of landscape, with long-term wetland values may not appropriate. Not so thoughtful social decisions of assigning unnecessary value to wetlands, in addition to the danger of comparing ecosystems, is that it will be possible to find a more profitable utilization of the land if temporary economic studies are made forever.
Here, wetland cost, estimates cannot compete very well with the financial returns of sugarcane and rice in the Baramati region hence, drainage will be economically favored than wetland conservation if traditional cost-benefit analysis is carried out Values are influenced by religious, cultural prejudice and financial system. In Bhigwan, there are good reasons why we need & aspire to protect nature; developed countries, having already taken care of the fundamental needs of their population, are principally and actively involved in enriching ecosystems- including wetlands, for their commercial, environmental, aesthetic as well as more functional attributes, not that all of this contribute to direct financial benefit. Here, various settlements live in and around wetlands and use them for daily survival – for the production of food and thread. Yet, generally they try to keep the usual wetland purpose intact, meaning unchanged, boundaries unbroken and values are preserved. The beliefs that we assign to wetlands are not different from the learning and culture from which we arrive. Here, In Bhigwan the fundamental needs of food and shelter are not taken granted and yet they have a unique view of the economics of wetlands.
Discussion & Conclusion
Wetlands have ecological value because their functions have been proved to be valuable for settlements. The ecological value for some wetlands also enhanced with human development (agriculture and urban) because of increased intended use and/or increased unexpected scarcity. Yet, ironically, its meaning can simply overwhelmed in areas of strong human development Thus decreasing environmental ethics and values. Wetlands work best in particular setting as spatially distributed eco-systems. Also, the ecological value is partially dependent on their location in the landscape setting, e.g., the degree to which a wetland is open to geological, hydrological and biological interrelation with other eco- systems, as well as urban / architectural and agricultural landscapes. The irony of assigning values to wetlands and other eco-systems is that, it can be the argument for substitution of one system with another if a landscape view is not taken into account.
Wetlands being remarkable entity of the larger ecosystem, it is to be perceived as a lungs of city, as they treat the waste waters of the areas and keep the biological chain running. Human settlement, community and nature, ecosystems are always seen as a faces of a coin which are inter-dependant. They are said to be coexistence and they work hand in hand. One cannot survive without the other hence they are ‘dependent arising ’. Their relationship is not a cyclic process which repeats and turns and follows the same path but it is an exponential, growing, spiral course of action. “If this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist.”- Pratītyasamutpāda, as explained in key principles of Buddhist teachings. Hence the study will revolve and yet suggest that, if wetlands and ecological habitats are to be conserved, the dependently arising communities need to be conserved
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