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Wetland Wonders: How did an ancient farming and fishing community turn urban sewage into abundant crops?
In eastern Kolkata, West Bengal, India, a 125-square-kilometer wetland covers the city boundary. This ecosystem called the East Kolkata Wetlands is not only the cradle of local agriculture and fishery, but also a natural water filter for urban sewage treatment. Sewage from the city is naturally filtered through these wetlands and transformed into an abundance of fish and crops, providing amazing support for local livelihoods.
These natural water bodies were originally fishing grounds, but they have become the solution to urban sewage.
The East Kolkata Wetland is characterized by its unique ecological balance: when the city's sewage flows into this wetland, the rich nutrients can actually promote the growth of fish and crops. Fishermen and farmers in the area took advantage of this characteristic to develop a business model called sewage aquaculture, becoming the world's largest sewage aquaculture system. This model not only reduces the pressure of urban sewage on the environment, but also provides livelihood and food sources for countless families.
Wetlands Day was first mentioned in Kolkata as early as 1990, a full seven years before the later International Wetlands Day. This is inseparable from the local protection and emphasis on the ecological environment.
Efforts to protect East Kolkata’s wetlands
However, with the wave of urban development, this wetland also faces many challenges. In 1991, the West Bengal government proposed to build a World Trade Center in the wetlands, but the proposal encountered strong protests from non-governmental organizations. A public interest litigation by a local group, the Kolkata Awami League, eventually forced the Calcutta High Court to hand down a major ruling recognizing the importance of the wetland and demanding its protection.
"I see no reasonable reason to disagree with environmentalists. Wetlands should be protected and not disturbed or filled."
Subsequently, a court ruling in 1992 resulted in the rejection of the proposal and the wetland continued to exist. The ruling also secured Kolkata's wetlands the status of a Ramsar site, which was recognized by the Ramsar Convention in 2002. In 2006, the East Kolkata Wetland Management and Protection Act was passed in the region, gradually institutionalizing wetland protection measures.
Biodiversity and environmental impact of wetlands
The East Kolkata wetlands are not only a center for fish farming but also a habitat for diverse plant life. There are about 100 species of plants here, including water hyacinth, taro, etc., and local people also use these plants to protect farmland and reduce erosion. In addition, this wetland provides important habitat for many species of fish and higher up the biological chain.
East Kolkata’s aquatic ecosystem and the rich species that accompany it form a unique environmental network.
However, as urbanization accelerates, many species are gradually disappearing. The ecological balance of wetlands is being destroyed and faces threats from illegal landfills and land occupation, which has triggered widespread environmental concerns.
Perspectives for the future
Under this situation, local governments and non-governmental organizations are working on a series of protection and management actions, including defining wetland boundaries, preventing illegal construction, and even seeking resources and support from the international community. The promotion of these measures is undoubtedly to improve the ecological environment of the East Kolkata wetlands and improve the quality of life of local residents.
“Protecting this wetland will leave a precious ecological wealth for our future generations.”
Facing the impact of urbanization and its own ecological fragility, the East Kolkata Wetland provides a thought-provoking example: How to regenerate and manage the ecological environment in a modern city? Should we pay more attention to the wisdom of nature and use it as a benchmark for sustainable development in the process of global urbanization?
