The slow exit of foraging in urban blue spaces
Urban water bodies are valued as recreational amenities, ecological assets and for flood management, but never as food systems, which is what they are for a significant portion of users, writes Jyotsnika Tiwari in Mongabay.
Integrating foraging into urban planning can enhance equitable food systems, fostering transformative change toward sustainable urban landscapes, as highlighted by Sukanya Basu, Brenda Maria Zoderer, Harini Nagendra, Peter H Verburg, and Tobias Plieninger in their research.
“Blue spaces are much wilder than green ones in cities. Water bodies and their edges create distinct microhabitats — the waterline, muddy banks, shallow water, seasonal floodplain — each supporting different edible species, historically left to grow as opposed to manicured parks.”
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Widespread practices and sustainability benefits of foraging in urban blue spaces of India
in Nature Cities
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Abstract
Urban blue spaces, such as lakes and rivers, are increasingly recognised for their ecological and social roles, yet their contributions to sustainable food systems remain understudied. Here, the researchers examine the extent and benefits of foraging in urban blue spaces across four major Indian cities through a survey of 1,200 users. We identify three forager groups, that is, ‘rare’, ‘occasional’ and ‘frequent’ foragers, whose behaviours differ in frequency and practice. Women, the elderly and marginalised communities most frequently collect, share, cook and sell edibles. Access to home or community gardens strongly motivates occasional foragers. Frequent foragers emphasise benefits relating to nutrition and income, as well as culture and social capital, whereas occasional foragers appreciate nature- and culture-related benefits. The findings challenge conventional perspectives on urban food provisioning, highlighting urban blue spaces as vital yet overlooked spaces for food access and resilience. Integrating foraging into urban planning can enhance equitable food systems, fostering transformative change toward sustainable urban landscapes.
Authors: Sukanya Basu, Brenda Maria Zoderer, Harini Nagendra, Peter H Verburg, Tobias Plieninger
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