Impact of Urbanization on Natural Heritage with Special Reference to Wetland Depletion in Thiruvananthapuram City, Kerala

Wetlands are referred to as natures kidneys and they are a part of the natural heritage of a place. The world today is undergoing rapid change and the process of urbanization is putting immense pressure on the wetland ecosystem. This paper focuses on wetland depletion due to urbanization and its effects on the citys natural heritage and urban landscape with the help of SOI Topographical maps and satellite images. Both primary and secondary data have been used in this study. In the urban areas of Thiruvananthapuram City, due to the increase in population and the consequent demand for housing, the wetlands are now being intensively converted for other purposes. The study indicated that between 1965 and 2019, the area under wetlands in the city has been decreased by about 70 percent. The wetlands in the city are in great danger due to the uncontrolled urban activities and ruthless degradation of environment by anthropogenic activities.