Radhika Maitra

Food and the City

Human Footprint on Koteshwar

The aim of this project is to document how an urban forest - the Koteshwar wilderness - is used by villagers living nearby and simultaneously, to draw attention to the depletion and importance of forests, especially in cities. The Koteshwar wilderness is a biodiversity hotspot in Ahmedabad, which will soon be cut down according to the new TP Scheme. Thus, this project aims to document how interlinked the Koteshwar wilderness is with the lives of residents around it. Details about the activities and impacts of various stakeholders of Koteshwar can be found in the complete booklet linked here. 


Report Content

Understanding the surrounding context of one of the only green patches of Ahmedabad

Transition of the landscape of Koteshwar over the years

Activity, usage and impact divided into four categories based on stakeholders

Villages around have been using Koteshwar as part of their daily lives

Activities observed and noted on site visits

How phase II of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development uses and affects Koteshwar

Newcomers incorporate Koteshwar in their lives in ways different than the villagers

Even we as researchers, as well as residents around Koteshwar use and impact the wilderness diversely

The city's new town planning scheme ignores Koteshwar as a green patch

Can we afford to lose the 'lungs of cities' in the wake of pollution and deforestation?