Open spaces in urban areas, ecologists say, are necessary for several species of small animals to survive. They act like small transit points for moving from one location to another, encouraging cross-breeding and expansion of the gene pool
Two weeks ago, when three unoccupied plots in Varadiyini Society on Sus Road, which had thick growth of shrubs bushes and grasses, were getting cleaned using earthmovers, two labourers stumbled upon 13 cup-shaped bird-nests. Little would have they realised they destroyed some valuable open space, which environmentalists call transit corridors. Experts say if these spaces are killed, the biodiversity in an urban ecology would die too.
The reason, is that these green patches offer these species transit points for moving from one major location to another, thereby encouraging cross-breeding and expansion of the gene pool, vital to survival. The city has a number of major green patches, like the Pune University campus, Vetal and Chatuhshrungi hills, Pashan lake and the campus of the College of Military Engineering. An array of species, small birds, birds of prey, mammals, insects and butterflies thrive in these transit corridors. Veteran botanist SD Mahajan says, “These major green patches are lungs of the city and preservation of these patches is of utmost importance. Small patches of greenery are important for existence of species.”
Environmental scientist Dharmaraj Patil says, “These open spaces between buildings, small gardens and reserved areas within the city limits, act as corridors and a prey base for the entire urban ecosystem. For example, a green plot behind your house can have birds like Tailorbird, Ashy Prinia, Sunbird, Quails, White-eye and many varieties of flower peckers. Needless to say, insects, butterflies and other invertebrates, besides rodents thrive there.”
Patil adds, “Species from the major green patches use these small places to go from one major patch to another. If this does not happen, the gene pool richness would be lost due to breeding within a single genetic group. These diversity-rich patches provide space for mating of two genetically non-related groups and help in enlargement of the gene pool.”
Experts feel local governing bodies should, along with mapping of major green patches, make detailed maps of these spaces. “In these times of uncontrolled real estate development, the local governmental bodies like the PMC in Pune, should identify some plots in the city that will never be developed in course of time. One may not gauge the importance of this idea, but it is crucial to sustainability of the ecosystems in the city,” adds Patil. However, there seems to be little awareness on this among PMC officials. “Green patches acting as corridors is an acceptable idea, but we cannot stop real estate growth,” says an officer with the garden department. But chief garden superintendent, Naresh Zurmure, says, “We have started taking steps for preservation of local species in gardens. We are focusing more on local species favourable for conservation of biodiversity.” By SushantKulkarni, Indian Express
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