BEYOND WATER QUALITY: EXPLORING SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN LAKE MANAGEMENT- A CASE STUDY OF MUSEUM LAKE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM INDIA.

Lakes forms a significant source of precious water. It provides valuable habitats to a variety of flora and fauna, control the extreme hydrological events such as drought and floods, influence the microclimate, improve the aesthetic beauty of the landscape and extend many recreational opportunities. A lake in an urban ecosystem forms an integral part of it by performing significant environmental, social and economic functions ranging from being a source of drinking water, recharging groundwater, and acting as sponges to control flooding, supporting biodiversity and providing livelihoods. While cities are facing challenges of unplanned rapid urbanization, these water bodies play an important role in maintaining environmental sustainability irrespective of whether they are natural or artificial wetlands. Eutrophication along with subsequent invasive aquatic weeds infestation is a major factor responsible for rapid degradation of water bodies. The restoration, conservation and management of lakes require a thorough understanding of all the components of that ecosystem. Ecological monitoring and assessment provide baseline information about the condition of the aquatic systems. In the present study, the Museum Lake in Thiruvananthapuram has been taken into consideration. The lake was unexplored in terms of water quality or biodiversity assessment. Our study involved the analysis of hydro-biological parameters, considering phytoplankton as bioindicators, ecological survey of the riparian flora and fauna associated with the lake. In this way we tried to highlight the importance of this unexplored urban lake ecosystem, suggesting recommendations for the better conservation and management of the aquatic ecosystem as a whole. We also included an ecosystem-based approach in conservation and management of the lake by installing Artificial Floating Islands (AFIs) using Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as vetiver is a perennial bunchgrass of the family Poaceae. Our preliminary results reveals that there was a major variation in controlling phosphate concentration in water after the AFIs. AFIs also helps to improve converting the Museum Lake as conservation breeding centres of indigenous and endangered bird varieties and allowing macrophytes to improve aesthetic beauty. The three primary aims of zoos are Conservation Breeding, Scientific Research and Education. For creating awareness of the value of Lake Ecosystem among students, self-explanatory aquatic ecosystem models and kiosks are placed along the lake showing the importance of conservation of our natural ecosystems. We also arrange classes to college and school students, engage them in involving the conservation of our natural resources by conducting quiz programs, painting competitions, debates etc. In these ways we promote education and awareness, enable the visitors to have communion with nature and get motivated for living in harmony with nature through this urban lake.

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Primary Presenter: ANILA AJAYAN, UNIVERSITY OF KERALA (anila.dehradun@gmail.com)

Authors:

Sibin Antony, National Centre for Earth Science Studies  (santony41@gmail.com)

Anoop Krishnan, National Centre for Earth Science Studies  (sreeanoop@rediffmail.com)

Jan Rijstenbil, AE3 Consultancy  (jwrijstenbil@kpnmail.nl)

Ajit Kumar, University of Kerala  (ajit.anchal@gmail.com)