Bengaluru Marathon: Rejuvenate the park & pond ecosystem in Gubbalala

Story

Gubbalala Hasiru Dala (Gubbalala Green Brigade) is a community group formed with a vision of rejuvenating a local pond ecosystem, and establishing a tree covered park in the adjoining land. The pond and land for the park are located in Gubbalala village, Bengaluru – 61. For many years, this pond was largely neglected by the community. However, the same cannot be said for the diverse animal and plant life that made it a home—a thriving ecosystem.

Current Scenario:

Gubbalala is a peri-urban area of Bengaluru facing rapid changes in land-use. There is an urgent need to protect and conserve whatever ecosystems remain.
The local pond supports a good variety of plants and animals. We have seen a few turtles living in the pond, and many birds visit and nest amongst the plants, indicating the presence of a good food web.
The pond is at risk of being lost to soil erosion from adjoining land. The pond needs to be protected by removing soil, stabilizing the embankment and planting trees.
Adjoining the pond is 4 acres of land, designated as a park area but not yet developed.

As an immediate and urgent step, we are working to save the pond and its ecosystem by clearing out the soil eroding into it and by planting trees and shrubs that attract a variety of fauna. After the pond has been protected, we plan to have a waterfall over the rock face to aerate the pond, provide a walking path, plant many more trees and establish a park in the adjoining land. Our aim is to increase habitat for fauna, increase green cover in our area, and to establish a community asset for present and future generations of Bengaluru residents.

Requirements for the first phase of rejuvenating the pond ecosystem:

Areas of support	Activities	Estimated Costs
Protect the pond ecosystem	Stabilizing the embankment of the pond Removal of excess reeds and garbage from the pond Tree and shrub planting with the help of Say Trees and the local community Fencing the pond area for protecting tree saplings	INR 1,50,000

For more information, please write to info@uwbengaluru.org visit our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gubbalalahasirudala.

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