Synergistic Impact of Urbanization of Kolkata Metropolitan and East Kolkata Wetlands on the Mangrove-Estuarine Complex of Sundarbans, India
摘要
The East Kolkata Wetland, designated as a wetland of global importance under the United Nations Ramsar Convention, located on the eastern flank of the Kolkata metropolitan city, renders valuable ecosystem services on one hand and releases a substantial amount of wastes, both solid and liquid, to the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve by a network of estuaries, creeks, and tidal canals. The release of such a huge amount of waste material ultimately results in drastic alteration of the total ecology of the mangrove ecosystem in general and physicochemical parameters of soil and water in particular. In addition, undesirable changes in the land-use pattern, imposition of modern technology-based aquacultural and agricultural practices, development of brick kilns, modification of the natural drainage system, increased urban settlement, enhancement of the concentration of toxic city waste, etc., ultimately lead to decline of natural vegetation cover along with their associated faunal components in this region. All of these environmental stresses have resulted in massive destruction and mortality of mangrove assemblages and faunal diversity, putting millions of regional humans at risk. This chapter has dealt with all of these issues with an integrated and holistic approach in order to chalk out proper eco-management strategies in a sustainable manner.