Sustainable urban development and biodiversity

Abstract

The sustainable urban habitat should cater to the economic prosperity, community needs, social security and environmental awareness of the population while maintaining the human comfort and biodiversity. The resource thirsty urban lifestyles put a stress on non-renewable sources of water, energy, forests- flora and fauna and land. India has geographical area of 3,287,263 square kilometre, a forest cover of 20.6%1 of total geographical area and only 2.48%1 area under tree cover totalling to an aggregate of 2461 million trees1. The urban sprawl has consumed the peripheral areas of the cities and devoured fertile agricultural fields, but still India has fair area under forest cover. India’s forests serve as a major sink of CO2. The estimates show that the annual CO2 removals by India’s forest and tree cover is enough to neutralize 11.25 % of India’s total GHG emissions (CO2 equivalent) at 1994 levels2. This is the most recent year for which comparable data is available for developing countries based on their respective National Communications (NATCOM ) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)3. India’s population as per latest estimates is approximately 120 Crores (2011) and assuming a family size of 5 members the total no of household required are 24 Crores. The average area of each house if assumed as 50 sqm, total area required for habitat is 1200 Crore sqm or 12000 Square Kilometre. This is 0.36 % of total geographical area of India and it can be achieved without disturbing nature. To establish an ecological and sustainable design strategy, we must propose urban development adjoining forests but at an optimal distance from these. Within the urban habitat the plantation design for city centre, roads, parks, gardens and urban forests should be proposed to include the suitable native species. This paper aims to evolve an ecological design strategy by establishing the measurable and immeasurable value of trees in the landscape, carbon sequestration and water requirements therein.