Transitional peri-urban landscape and use of natural resource for livelihoods

Abstract

Peri-urban landscapes are highly dynamic with regard to their land use, social, economic and ecological constructs. Urbanization has its impact outside its boundary and is determined by the types of services and resources provided by the peripheral areas to the city. Increasing pressure on the natural resources to meet the urban and peri-urban needs leads to jeopardized ecosystems which adversely affect the livelihoods of natural resource dependent peri-urban and rural population. This paper intends to look into the general environmental concerns in the context of Indian peri-urban areas. It analyses the pattern of natural resource use for acquiring livelihoods and unsustainable practices in a peri-urban landscape of Guwahati city, northeast India. A cross-sectional analysis, dividing the landscape into three sections with differential urban impacts have shown that, there have been degradation of resources although increase in income from a few natural resources, particularly aquatic resource. The collection of forest resources other than the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) found decreasing in all the three sections of the landscape. The study findings have implications for landscape planning which concludes that the impacts of unplanned urban activities affecting the natural resources in the fringe areas have been realized by the local population. Although expansion of the city has acknowledged the area as eco-sensitive zone, further policy revision is essential to conserve ecosystem and to ensure sustainable and enhanced ecosystem services to cater the needs of both rural and urban population.