Elangkumaran S

UR3596

Nature based solutions (Nbs) have become pivotal tools in promoting ecological resilience in the era of climate change. There is a paradigm shift from the traditional approach of building engineered infrastructure that usually does not account for ecological services. Ahmedabad, India situated in a semi-arid climatic zone, faces rapid urbanization trends while compromising on a comprehensive environmental planning strategy. It has instead, adapted on to building infrastructure over ecologically sensitive land prioritized over a mutual habitat encompassing ecosystem services. Through continuous expansions without integrating green infrastructure, the city already faces extreme heat stress marking over 331 days of 365 days with heat perceived temperatures above the normal index (Shastri, 2023). In this context, there is more emphasis on Nature-based solutions that are primarily actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural ecosystems, that address societal challenges such as climate change, human health, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction by providing human wellbeing and biodiversity benefits (IUCN, 2020).The research primarily addresses Nbs through a matrix of applicable solutions to revive ecological systems and services within the city. The study focuses on vacant land spaces in Ahmedabad that have lost the potential over the years. Historically, these spaces have held various functions within the city, mainly serving as public gathering spaces and playgrounds. Although the current scenario remains mostly similar in function, the surrounding spaces have shown tremendous growth in housing development, road networks, and other infrastructure. This has led to a certain degree of change in the natural land-form within the vacant lands, becoming spaces under stress, converting to dumping grounds, parcels of infrastructure leftovers, and eventually destruction of natural habitat. As a result, the adequate water holding capacity has diminished over time, resulting in excessive runoff during monsoons. The research hinges on this question: Can unaltered landscapes serve as areas to retain and capture wetness while also accommodating other urban activities? The research examines unaltered landscapes as potential grounds to restore ecological systems, functions, and services supporting the built environment. The study explores two primary modules within its framework. Firstly, it systematically categorizes global Nbs practices tested on the ground, analyses their observations, and extracts key takeaways. Secondly, the research translates these practices into the context of Ahmedabad, providing a matrix applicable across various scales and typologies. Focusing on unaltered landscapes, the study aims to provide valuable insights into water and land management strategies, particularly addressing vacant lands. Keywords: Nature based solutions (Nbs), unaltered landscapes, vacant lands, wetness, urban development.