Second author Brenda Maria Zoderer from the Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Nature Conservation Planning at BOKU emphasizes “Based on data from these four Indian metropolises, our study shows that urban waters play a central role in securing food and livelihoods for marginalized population groups. The results make it clear that their importance as multifunctional landscapes must be given greater consideration in urban planning in order not to further increase the vulnerability of these groups.”
The study is the first to add the aspect of food security to the growing body of scientific evidence linking the value of urban waters to biodiversity, attractiveness, security and infrastructure – all of which are important for people’s health. With more commitment to blue infrastructure, urban planning would promote sustainable landscapes and support traditions and the social participation of marginalized groups, the researchers concluded. “Since the 1950s, rapid urban development, environmental pollution and industrialization have led to the deterioration of many rivers, lakes and canals in cities,” says Tobias Plieninger, professor of social-ecological interactions in agricultural systems at the universities of Göttingen and Kassel. “Our results show that water bodies need to be recognized as a valuable asset in cities.”
The study was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Originalveröffentlichung: Basu, S. et al. Widespread practices and sustainability benefits of foraging in urban blue spaces of India. Nature Cities (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44284-025-00337-4
Photos are available at the following link:
©Sukanya Basu
Use is only permitted in connection with reporting on the research project
THIS Statement 1:
Insight into the everyday life of many household helpers in Kolkata in eastern India: On their way home, the women collect food such as fish and snails from a lake that is gradually drying out.
THIS Bill 2:
A woman sells freshly collected wild herbs on a street in Bengaluru, southern India. In this way, she brings city dwellers into contact with wild, local foods.
Scientific contact:
Mag.a Brenda Maria Zoderer, PhD.
Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning
BOKU University
Tel.: +43 1 47654 – 85342
E-Mail: brender.
Dr.in Basu likes it
Azim Premji University
School of Climate Change and Sustainability
Bengaluru, India
Telephone: +91 9851817418
E-Mail: sukanya.basu(at)apu.edu.in
Internet:
Prof. Dr. Tobias Plieninger
Georg-August University of Göttingen & University of Kassel
Department of Social-Ecological Interactions in Agricultural Systems
E-Mail: plienninger(at)un-gotting.
