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The “Sustainable” in smart cities: ignoring the importance of urban ecosystems

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Abstract

This article argues that the smart city model proposed for an urbanising India ignores key elements of environmental sustainability. Urban green spaces in cities are common pool resources (CPRs) or urban commons that provide provisioning, supporting, regulating and cultural ecosystem services. However, the smart cities model disregards the provisioning services of urban CPRs that are critical for livelihoods and subsistence of urban marginalised groups. By prioritising certain uses, such as recreational, over others the model results in exclusion of urban poor from the commons. The paper highlights the multiple uses of urban commons, with emphasis on the provisioning services that support lives and livelihoods of urban residents. Alienation from CPRs, both by denying physical access and by erosion of cultural links, is also highlighted as a major concern. We urge a systematic reconceptualisation of urban sustainability, and towards a multi-faceted use-value of urban ecosystems, to develop both ecologically and socio-culturally smart cities.

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Notes

  1. D’Souza and Nagendra 2011, Sundaresan 2011, Baindur 2014, Mundoli et al. 2015, and Unnikrishnan and Nagendra 2014a have detailed the range of provisioning (and other) services of lakes in Bengaluru that are discussed in this section.

  2. Observations and interactions with cattle owners during a field visit to Nyaayanayakanahalli Lake on 16 February 2015.

  3. Varthur Lake was being used to grow paddy in the lake wetland as observed in a field visit made on 30 May 2013.

  4. Observations and interviews with farmers during field visit to Chikkagubbi Lake on 14 November 2013 and 17 February 2015; vegetables grown included beans and cucumbers.

  5. Observation and interactions during a visit to Varthur Lake on 30 May 2013 and on 3 April 2014. Along with horticulture and flowers, we observed paddy, leafy vegetables, tomatoes and green chillies being cultivated on the banks of the lake.

  6. Information on gunda thopes was collected during field work done across Bengaluru between May 2013 and June 2015 (see Mundoli et al. 2017).

  7. Observations made around Doddagubbi Lake on 4 January 2015.

  8. Interviews conducted in Lakshmi Layout slum on 30 January 2015.

  9. Interviews conducted in Bhattarahalli slum on 9 February 2015.

  10. The examples mentioned comprise only a few varieties of plants and trees grown. For a more comprehensive list across 44 slums in Bengaluru see Gopal and Nagendra 2014.

  11. Names have been changed to provide anonymity to interviewees.

  12. Interview conducted in Lakshmi Layout slum on 30 January 2015.

  13. Interview conducted with bamboo weavers on KR Road on 18 December 2014.

  14. Observations and interactions conducted around twenty lakes in the city of Bengaluru, between March 2014 and March 2015, particularly at Varthur Lake on 4 April 2014, Kogilu Lake on 20 February 2015, Kalkere on 8 December 2014, Maragondanahalli Lake on 24 February 2015 and Yelahanka Lake on 4 February 2015.

  15. Interview in Chikkabeguru on 9 February 2015.

  16. Gopal and Nagendra 2014 have recorded a range of these activities. These include children and adults engaging in playing games like cricket and carom, site for flower vendors and tea stall owners to ply their trade, to engage in breaking stones, making brooms and incense sticks, for washing dishes and clothes, and for grooming.

  17. Interview with bamboo weavers conducted on 12 and 18 December 2014.

  18. Interview in Lakshmi Layout on 30 January 2015.

  19. Observations and interactions with locals around Bhattarahalli Lake, Kelaginakere, Kalkere, and Bellandur Lake on 27 January 2015, 3 February 2015 and 21 March 2014, respectively.

  20. Nagendra 2013a mentions these altered landscape characterised by non-flowering plants and exotic shrubs that do not provide food or shelter and are also a threat to birds and insects as they are heavily sprayed with pesticide.

  21. Field work done in December 2013 and February–March 2014 as well as RTI filed to access common lands data in Bangalore East taluk (administrative unit).

  22. Field visit to Chikkagubbi Lake on 28 May 2013 and on 17 February 2015.

  23. Observations and interactions with villagers at Agara village associated with the Agara Lake on 23 February 2015.

  24. Observations and interactions with villagers near Kogilu Lake near Yelahanka on 20 February 2015.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Azim Premji University, PES Campus, Pixel Park, B Block, Electronics City, Hosur Road, (Beside NICE Road), Bengaluru, 560100, India

    Seema Mundoli, Hita Unnikrishnan & Harini Nagendra

  2. Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur Post, Bengaluru, 560064, India

    Hita Unnikrishnan

  3. Manipal University, Manipal, Udupi, 576104, India

    Hita Unnikrishnan

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  1. Seema Mundoli
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  2. Hita Unnikrishnan
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  3. Harini Nagendra
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Correspondence to Seema Mundoli.

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Mundoli, S., Unnikrishnan, H. & Nagendra, H. The “Sustainable” in smart cities: ignoring the importance of urban ecosystems. Decision 44, 103–120 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40622-017-0152-x

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