Wetlands are considered one of the world’s most productive biological ecosystems, but anthropogenic abuse has reduced their number by three times faster than forests (Global Wetland Outlook 2018). The chapter explores the critical role of wetlands in enhancing urban resilience amidst growing environmental and climatic challenges. Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) is the new approach in urban planning where natural resources like trees, parks, lawns, rivers, and wetlands are prioritized. By integrating wetlands into urban planning and infrastructure, urban towns and cities can strengthen their capacity to adopt remedial measures and recover from environmental crises. The study highlights a case study taking Chatra Beel (a peri-urban wetland located in the periphery of the English Bazar town of Malda district) and policy recommendations to promote sustainable urban development through wetland management and restoration. The spatial peripheral changes of this wetland have been studied through an overlay analysis prepared from imageries that have been downloaded from USGS (of the four mentioned years) and digitized using ArcGIS software. The result shows that 51.84% of the area of the Chatra Beel has been encroached on by the local people for settlement by infilling, and the remaining part is polluted by the disposal of solid-liquid waste from different point and non-point sources of pollution (NPSP). A comprehensive conservation and management plan is urgently needed to save wetlands from impending disaster. This chapter prepares a plan layout map of Chatra Beel using thematic mapping with ArcGIS software. The proposed plan suggests that 26% of the area can be used for plantation and agriculture along the banks of the wetland. In contrast, the remaining parts can be used for fishing, aquaculture, and aqua park activities. .

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An Integrated Approach to the Planning and Management of a Peri-urban Wetland: A Case Study of Chatra Beel, English Bazar, Malda District, West Bengal

  • Sanjoy Dutta,
  • Debjani Roy

摘要

Wetlands are considered one of the world’s most productive biological ecosystems, but anthropogenic abuse has reduced their number by three times faster than forests (Global Wetland Outlook 2018). The chapter explores the critical role of wetlands in enhancing urban resilience amidst growing environmental and climatic challenges. Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) is the new approach in urban planning where natural resources like trees, parks, lawns, rivers, and wetlands are prioritized. By integrating wetlands into urban planning and infrastructure, urban towns and cities can strengthen their capacity to adopt remedial measures and recover from environmental crises. The study highlights a case study taking Chatra Beel (a peri-urban wetland located in the periphery of the English Bazar town of Malda district) and policy recommendations to promote sustainable urban development through wetland management and restoration. The spatial peripheral changes of this wetland have been studied through an overlay analysis prepared from imageries that have been downloaded from USGS (of the four mentioned years) and digitized using ArcGIS software. The result shows that 51.84% of the area of the Chatra Beel has been encroached on by the local people for settlement by infilling, and the remaining part is polluted by the disposal of solid-liquid waste from different point and non-point sources of pollution (NPSP). A comprehensive conservation and management plan is urgently needed to save wetlands from impending disaster. This chapter prepares a plan layout map of Chatra Beel using thematic mapping with ArcGIS software. The proposed plan suggests that 26% of the area can be used for plantation and agriculture along the banks of the wetland. In contrast, the remaining parts can be used for fishing, aquaculture, and aqua park activities. .