Rapid Urbanisation Is Leading To Rapid Decimation Of Wetlands

Rapid Urbanisation Is Leading To Rapid Decimation Of Wetlands

 (By Sravani Gokaraju ) 

Image By:- Goutham Sagar

Cities have always been places of growth, innovation, and learning for a long time. It is the people living in these cities that lead to most of that country's GDP. People from villages and towns come to major cities in search of jobs and for education, leading to cities having a vast population. This rapid shift of people from towns and villages to cities is called rapid urbanization. Other reasons for an increase in urbanization include the presence of an explosion of industrialization and manufacturing enterprises, better living standards, modernization in cities and to avoid political turmoil like war, etc. that usually happen in the developing areas.  

The vast number of people shifting from villages and towns will require more space for their accommodation. Also, people living in cities always expect more and more development. All of this is resulting in expanding cities geographically. Though urbanization has its benefits for the people shifting to cities such as getting employment, etc., when done in excess, there are some negative aspects to it. Some of those drawbacks of rapid urbanization include overcrowding and congestion in cities, unemployment, and poverty due to too many people fighting for too little job opportunities, water and sanitation issues, lower quality of environment due to pollution, and decimation of wetlands.  

Though all the problems mentioned above affect only the people living in the cities, the decimation of wetlands affects even the people living outside cities. Wetland is a type of ecosystem that is a critical part of our environment. They are flooded by water, either seasonally or permanently. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other landforms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. All wetlands were once lakes and other water bodies. Tons of plants, animals, and insects die here and their decaying material gradually accumulates, making these lakes smaller. These eventually become wetlands. This natural process is called primary succession. Wetlands are important because they protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods, absorb pollutants, and improve water quality. They also provide habitat for animals and plants and many contain a wide diversity of life, supporting plants and animals that are found nowhere else. But these wetlands are disappearing rapidly.  

More and more land is being needed for farming to feed the growing population. Also, in order to expand cities, wetlands are being drained and filled in. Existing wetlands are being used for sewage dumping and run-off of agricultural fertilizers, disturbing the delicate soil-water balance. This is resulting in all the birds, animals, fish, and other life living there to be deprived of their homes, eventually endangering them. Controlling floods and erosion, cleansing the water that flows through them, pollution control, and extending supplies of water for drinking or irrigation are some uses of wetlands which are we humans are deprived of, due to their decimation.  

Rapid urbanization is not only affecting the people living in cities but also everyone else. It is also affecting all the animals and plants living with us. It is leading to a lower quality of the environment and ecosystem we live in. Advancement development is necessary but it should not be at the cost of extinction of natural ecosystems, our environment, and other living beings. It is even costing the future generation’s chances of living a healthy life.  

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The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Light de Literacy and LDL does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.