In fact, the proposal has been submitted by IIT-B's department of humanities and social sciences, and the study 'What is the real value of ecosystem services provided by SGNP' will be headed by professor Haripriya Gundimeda. The initial meetings have already begun, informed forest department officials.
In what could change the way Mumbai perceives Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the forest department has asked the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, to conduct a year-long study to quantify the 'ecological services' provided to the city by this forest. This is for the first time that such a study will be undertaken.
In fact, the proposal has been submitted by IIT-B's department of humanities and social sciences, and the study 'What is the real value of ecosystem services provided by SGNP' will be headed by professor Haripriya Gundimeda. The initial meetings have already begun, informed forest department officials.
Huge tangible and intangible benefits
A brainchild of chief conservator of forests and field director, SGNP, Vikas Gupta, the idea was aimed at valuing the huge tangible and intangible benefits to the city from biodiversity and ecological services, such as recreational and watershed values, preventing flood and soil erosion along with health benefits, and spiritual and intrinsic values. "People tend to respect something that has a value; unfortunately, the services that Mumbai get from the SGNP till date have never been evaluated. Hence, we thought of this study, which would be the best way to make citizens aware about the role this unique urban wilderness plays for the city," said Gupta.
'Economic Value'
He added that at end of the study they will have an 'economic' value of everything from the oxygen and clean water provided to the amount of carbon taken by the SGNP. "At times, Mumbai takes the SGNP wilderness for granted and we actually want to change the mindset of people towards it. There is no better way to do that than put a monetary value to the services provided," informed Gupta, adding that this study will be of help to even policymakers for better conservation planning.
Gundimeda said their proposal has just been cleared and they are in the process of setting up a project team.
"Quantification of ecosystem services provided by the park has several advantages as it will help give due importance to the urban-protected area in policy-making, will aid in allocating budget to maintain the national park," she said.
She added that the study will involve conducting surveys of visitors as well as forest officials along with collection and analysis of data that will be collected from the park management as well as estimating the value using several non-market valuation techniques for arriving at the ecological and economic values.
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