Hesaraghatta grasslands remain untouched

The large 5,678 hectares of grasslands in Hesaraghatta are finally under protection against attack and development. The government of Karnataka recently published the final notification of the Greater Hesaraghatta Grasland Conservation Reserve, while nature conservationists and those who have cried to save the remaining green areas of the city, a sigh of exemption.

The grassland region in Hesaraghatta forms a unique ecosystem close to Bengaluru and supports countless types of flora and fauna, many of which are threatened. This area is a large carbon pit for Bengaluru and can be a powerful tool to reduce climate change and to prevent the rapid concretization of the city. The preservation of the grasslands helps to reduce the effects of global warming.

The landscape around the Lakebed is the last remaining grassland habitat in the Bengaluru region and supports unique biodiversity. That is why protecting the habitat by creating a nature reserve for endangered nature species in surrounding areas was the need of the hour.

‘A Living Lab’

Dr. KS Seshadri, Fellow in Residence at The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in the city, has been associated with the conservation efforts since 2012, when he wrote a report with his colleagues about the need to retain grasslands and rich biodiversity.

“Although it took twenty years, the process has seen the willingness of government officials and citizens in a positive effort for the environment,” said Dr. Seshadri. “The protection of this savannah grassland and the Wetland -Ecosystem gives us a lung space that plays a crucial role in water security, supports rich biodiversity that supports the form of animals in the wild – animals, insects, butterflies, birds and amphibians – and can destroy a living laboratory.”

The region that is included under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 includes the Hesaraghatta -Lake, while the grasslands in the surrounding basin are an important reservoir of biodiversity. A survey by Subramanya S. from the Karnataka Biodiversity Board found a refuge for endangered nature species such as leopards, slim lorises, jackals, Indian foxes, flexibly coated otters, wild pigs, ordinary Mongoo mice. Moreover, seven different types of snakes have also been observed in the grasslands.

The grasslands are also the home of more than 285 species of birds, including the critically endangered lesser Florican (Sypheotides Indicus), 13 species of amphibians and 111 species butterflies, including the Lilac Silverline (Apharitis Lilacinus) Butterfly, who was observed in Bengaluru after a century and only in the grasslands of Hesaraghatta. About 395 types of other insect species are also registered.

The Hesaraghatta landscape is a site for various wintering migrants from Europe, Central -Asia and the Himalayas, including different types of Raptors. One of these migrating birds is the larger spotted eagle (Aquila Clanga) and the worldwide endangered Red-Nek Falcon (Falco Chicquera), who has classified the IUCN Red List as ‘vulnerable to extinction’.

Surmons Hook

The grasslands are a river basin for reviving groundwater level, which will improve groundwater and the groundwater table, which in turn would benefit thousands of farmers in the surrounding villages. It also acts as a sponge to record the drain of the monsoon.

This is a large basin of the Arkavathy River and the ThippaGondanahalli reserve and also for the nearby Hesaraghatta Lake and Reservoir. In this respect, the ecosystem services of the area will improve the water safety of Bengaluru and help achieve many goals for sustainable development. The grasslands also offer fresh water in the region for migratory birds.

The process of explaining the country as preserved had a lot of snags under the groezem, including opposition by local politicians and people who are located in the development of the area for real estate.

N. Ravindra Kumar, the deputy curator of forests, Bangalore Urban Division, said: “The forest department has always agreed to the proposal to indicate the grasslands as preserved. Thanks to the efforts of our Eshvar Khandre forest service, many public citizens, and our head minister, are the certificate. [and] The grasslands are the lungs and a much needed open space in the midst of the concrete jungle. ‘

Jagadish Krishnaswamy, dean of the School of Environment and Sustainability to the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru, said: “The preservation and restoration of the Hesaraghatta grasslands is very important for the city of Baggalurels in India is the first mega-city. all India. “

Papiya Bhattacharya is a freelance journalist.