Need for Nature-based Solutions in Kochi, Kerala, India Mr. Sabu A. Bhaskaran Councillor, Kochi Municipal Corporation Kochi at a glance • Queen of the Arabian Sea • Area: 107.13 km2 • Population: 601,574 (Census 2011) • Largest Trading Port in the • In proximity to the Western Ghats, a south-west and was the spice global biodiversity hotspot trading centre of the world in • It lies at the sea mouth of seven th major rivers which start from the the 14 century Western Ghats and travel through • Kerala’s midlands, lowlands and Commercial Capital of the coastal areas, to drain out into the State of Kerala contributing Arabian Sea thereby falling within a around 60% tax revenue to coastal wetland zone • An ecologically sensitive area turned the State bird sanctuary Mangalavanam lies in • its heart while the backwaters of Largest Urban Agglomeration Vembanad Lake which include many in the State small islands, surround the city region Kochi’s Urban Systems Fragile Urban System Fragility Statement Water Supply The system’s efficiency is constrained by, limited sources to meet the City’s potable water needs, contaminated ground water due to poor sanitary practices and poor infrastructure. Solid Waste Inadequate designated waste disposal sites, open dumping of waste and an Management inadequate collection and disposal system cause chronic challenges for health, sanitation, and ecosystem functioning Sewerage Insufficient infrastructure for the collection and management of sewerage and septage, the high water table and poor civic sense of citizens, results in waste being disposed into the canals and drains. Drainage Encroachment and poor conditions of the canals, heavy deposits of silt and discharge of solid and liquid waste into the drains, and inadequate coverage of the drainage system is resulting in many parts of the city being waterlogged and susceptible to disease. Information taken from Kochi’s City Resilience Strategy, ICLEI South Asia, 2016 Climate Change Impacts on Kochi’s Fragile Urban Systems Information taken from Kochi’s City Resilience Strategy, ICLEI South Asia, 2016 Vulnerability Hotspot Map - Kochi Municipal Corporation Land Use Land Cover Change in Kochi- impacts of urbanisation 2002 2016 2002 2014 KMC projects and activities which incorporate NBS • Backwater protection of Vembanad Lake • Conservation of the Pokkali landscape and technique through policy, subsidy and agricultural inputs • Activities that improve ecosystem services of Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary such as education programmes and mangrove restoration • Improving and augmenting green open spaces and public places through native tree plantation drives • Promotion of Ecotourism practices through stringent policy and regulatory means • Plastic ban • Rainwater Harvesting and public pond rejuvenation through policy and hardware • Environmental education through Biodiversity parks and clubs in schools and colleges • Promotion of roof-top and urban gardens through schemes and training programs • Development of the People’s Biodiversity Register • Promotion of organic farming Applying NBS to build Kochi’s Climate Resilience • Decentralized waste water • Well rejuvenation management system on a • Mapping of urban heat islands community level scale • Development of an action plan for • Phytoremediation of water bodies Vembanad Lake • Ward level composting of wet • Development of butterfly gardens waste and linking this with the in schools urban farming initiatives • Restoration of Thevara canal • Permeable pavements using grid pavers • Study on ecosystem services provided by mangrove and a • Rain gardens mapping of mangroves within the • Recycling and reuse of water in city public buildings Thank you!.