Human-induced impacts on ecological infrastructure in the Himalayan urban agglomerations

Abstract

The spatial dimensions of urban ecological services (UESs) transformation and population density in major Himalayan urban agglomerations (UAs) were analyzed to deduce the impacts of anthropogenic activities in recent decades (1991–2018). The multi-satellite-based study exhibited a remarkable increase (193 sq. km; 15%) in the built infrastructure and a significant decline (−24%) in the ecological infrastructure in the Himalayan UAs. The continuous anthropogenic influence on the Himalayan ecosystems in the last three decades has created severe socio-economic-ecological consequences that have largely impacted green infrastructure (GI), which is receptive to conversion to built infrastructure. The large-scale UES alteration was evident within larger cities in the western and central Himalayas, in contrast to the low transformation in Eastern Himalayan cities barring Shimla UA. The investigation highlights the rapid and haphazard population influx and urban growth that imposed a higher risk of natural hazards in the Eastern and Central Himalayan UAs and necessitated suitable policies to build an ecologically sustainable urban ecosystem.