Biodiversity and Conservation: The Strong Pillars of a Sustainable Future

Growing up in Bangalore, I’ve witnessed firsthand how rapidly urban development can transform landscapes. The city once known as the “Garden City” has seen its green cover shrink dramatically in my lifetime. The lakes I used to visit as a child—Bellandur, Varthur, Hebbal—tell a story of ecosystem decline that mirrors the global biodiversity crisis we’re facing.

“In nature, nothing exists alone.” These words by Rachel Carson resonate deeply as I navigate the concrete jungle that parts of Bangalore have become. Each time I read about another species vanishing or habitat being destroyed, I wonder: are we pulling blocks from nature’s Jenga tower faster than it can handle?

The Biodiversity Crisis: Close to Home and Global

Let’s face it—we’re in the middle of what scientists call the sixth mass extinction. Unlike the dinosaurs, we can’t blame an asteroid. This one’s on us.

According to the latest IPBES Global Assessment Report, around 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. That’s not just a number—it’s the unravelling of living systems we depend on.

This hits home in Karnataka, which hosts one of India’s biodiversity hotspots—the Western Ghats. These ancient mountains harbour species found nowhere else on Earth. Yet during a recent trek to Kudremukh, our guide pointed out areas where mining and deforestation have fragmented critical habitats.

Think this doesn’t affect your everyday life in the city? That filter coffee you enjoy exists thanks to pollinators working in coffee plantations across Coorg. The medicines at your local pharmacy? Many were developed from compounds found in plants, some from the Western Ghats. Even the water reaching Bangalore depends on healthy forest watersheds that filter and regulate flow.

When Species Disappear: The Domino Effect We Can’t Ignore

The ecosystem is like a game of Jenga that we’ve been playing since childhood. Sometimes you can remove a piece and nothing happens immediately. Other times, the whole structure comes crashing down.

Take Bangalore’s lakes. The disappearance of wetland plants and animals wasn’t just aesthetically unfortunate—it preceded the infamous toxic foam that now makes headlines during monsoon season. One by one, we lost the biological filters that kept these urban water bodies healthy.

I remember my grandfather telling stories about Bangalore’s weather—how it used to be India’s air-conditioned city. The temperature rise we’re experiencing isn’t just about global warming; it’s also about the urban heat island effect intensified by the loss of the city’s green cover.

The interconnections become clearer when you look at the whole picture. When the Bangalore Development Authority proposed cutting down hundreds of trees in Cubbon Park for a new road project last year, it wasn’t just about losing trees—it was about disrupting an entire urban ecosystem that helps keep the city livable.

Not All Hope Is Lost: Success Stories That Inspire

Despite the grim reality, conservation success stories keep my optimism alive:

India’s tiger conservation efforts have been remarkable. Growing up, I heard about how tigers were nearly extinct in the wild. Today, India has nearly doubled its wild tiger population since 2006. 

In Bengaluru itself, the revival of Kaikondrahalli Lake stands as a testament to what community action can achieve. Citizen groups working with government bodies transformed what was once a garbage dump back into a thriving ecosystem. Now, on weekend mornings, you can spot over 40 species of birds there.

Even broader efforts like the Green Highway Project along the Bangalore-Mysore expressway show that development and conservation can coexist when there’s political will.

These success stories aren’t outliers—they’re proof that when we decide something matters, we can reverse the damage.

Getting Your Hands Dirty: What You Can Do in Bangalore and Beyond

Environmental action can start small. Last monsoon, I joined a group of friends for a tree-planting drive in our neighbourhood. It wasn’t a massive operation, but those saplings are growing taller each month.

Here are some realistic ways to make a difference in our city:

Join urban conservation efforts: Groups like Bangalore Environment Trust and Lake Conservation groups organize regular cleanups and habitat restoration events. I’ve met amazing people while volunteering at Jakkur Lake—students, IT professionals, retirees—all united by purpose.

Make conscious consumer choices: Bangalore’s numerous organic stores and farmers’ markets make it easier to support sustainable agriculture. Each time I visit the Sunday organic market at Cubbon Park, I’m supporting farming practices that work with biodiversity, not against it.

Create micro-habitats: Even in apartment complexes, balcony gardens with native plants can support urban biodiversity. Since converting my family’s balcony into a native plant haven, we’ve seen butterflies and birds return to our 10th-floor home.

Speak up for green spaces: When urban development threatens the remaining green spaces, your voice matters. The citizen movement that saved thousands of trees from being cut for the Steel Flyover project shows that public opinion can change policy.

The Economics of Biodiversity: Beyond Tree-Hugging

Economics and ecology are increasingly intertwined. The World Economic Forum now ranks biodiversity loss as one of the top five threats to the global economy.

More than half of global GDP—about $44 trillion—depends on nature and its services. When mangroves protect coastal areas from storm damage, when forests regulate water flow preventing floods and droughts, and when pollinators enable agricultural production—these are economic services provided for free.

In Bangalore’s tech ecosystem, startups working on sustainability solutions are finding both purpose and profit. From companies developing better water management systems to those creating biodegradable alternatives to plastics, conservation-minded innovation is becoming good business.

The Future We Choose

Some mornings, reading news about climate disasters and extinction rates between classes, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. But then I look at how young Indians are mobilizing for environmental causes—the climate strikes, the petition drives, the conservation startups—and I find reason for hope.

As someone who has grown up watching Bangalore transform, I understand that change is inevitable. But the direction of that change is something we can influence. Will we continue to sacrifice biodiversity for short-term gains? Or will we recognize that our well-being and economic prosperity depend on healthy ecosystems?

The Western Ghats that provide Bangalore’s water, the urban lakes that cool our neighbourhoods, and the green spaces that clean our air—they’re not luxuries. They’re necessities.

At 22, I know the choices my generation makes will determine whether future Bangaloreans will know the call of the Malabar whistling thrush, see purple frogs in the Western Ghats or enjoy the shade of ancient banyan trees.

The path to a biodiverse future is ours to choose. I know which way I’m heading. Do you want to join me?

Author: Sireesha. S