COURSE IN MUMBAI ECOLOGY

For the last 10 years or so, I have really wished there was something....like an adult learners' program or a short course where I could get authoritative knowledge and training about ecology. From these thoughts, I came up with the following outline for a certificate course.

If I get a good number of applicants, I can send across a formal proposal to someone.

MUMBAI  URBAN ECOLOGY

With the expansion of cities, erstwhile rural and forest areas are getting urbanised. This phenomenon is happening in all parts of the world and in Mumbai also. Secondly, within well established urban areas in Mumbai, there are unique ecosystems with their own flora and fauna (even if limited). Examples are kingfishers in gaothans, Coucals spread all over Mumbai and numerous sightings of snakes. Inspite of being a megalopolis, in Mumbai all is not lost. In other words, we still have a lot to lose if we do not protect Mumbai’s ecology now.

In addition, there is nothing to suggest that urbanisation should necessarily lead to environment destruction. Maybe the quality of the environment will not be anywhere near when it was in a pristine state. But we can ensure some greenery and mitigate the process of destruction. This is in our own interests as environment protection helps to preserve local resources, improves local ambience and has been clearly associated with good health outcomes for communities.

 Mumbaikars need to learn about ecology and simple methods of preservation as applicable to Mumbai. This will promote environment- mindedness and enhance knowledge and agency where it already exists. We should aim to gift our coming generations the remaining jewels of nature, natural resources (water) and a pollution-free Mumbai.

To achieve this we need to do following two things-

1. Bring together like-minded Mumbaikars and Mumbai- lovers under the ‘Mumbai Urban Ecology’ group. This is already happening due to self motivated, well informed persons and by ngos and activists.  

2. Provide know- how and training to those seeking to learn and be instrumental in the study and protection of ‘Mumbai Urban Ecology’. This is required by persons who have a strong desire to participate but lack the confidence or knowledge or both.

For understanding and protecting Mumbai urban ecology, hi-fi expert knowledge like environment engineering or PhD are not needed. An accurate knowledge and orientation to the thought process are needed. This can be achieved by a short course on a part-time basis with exposure to relevant topics.

Hence, with respect to the second point, I propose to have a ‘Mumbai Urban Ecology’ course.

The course should be a distance- education or online course. I propose it should be a year long course with following curriculum:

MODULE 1- INTRODUCTION ‘MUMBAI URBAN ECOLOGY’

What is ecology? What is Urban Ecology? Methods of study and documentation. Historical perspectives. Present ecology. Distribution of dissertation topics

MODULE 2- INTERFACE

Urbanisation and environment- effect and impact. Concept of environmental impact assessment. Rules and laws. Review of Movements, campaigns and ngo work- occurred in Mumbai or with relevance to Mumbai.

MODULE 3- PROBLEMS OF URBAN ECOLOGY 1

Habitat destruction. Resource depletion. And their mitigation.  

MODULE 4- PROBLEMS OF URBAN ECOLOGY-2

Pollution and its mitigation. Include studies on ‘green’ architecture and ‘green/ sustainable’ living, green designs

MODULE 5- APPROACHES TO URBAN ECOLOGY

Study and documentation. Adverse impacts mitigation. Education. Advocacy and activism.  This module should be designed to cause reflection in the student about what should be their role, what do they want to do with the learning in the course

ASSESSMENT

1. Group discussion

2. Dissertation presentation

METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF COURSE

Course can have two coordinators and we can have a first trial batch with nominal fee or sponsored by some environment- minded organisation. We will have to organise experts from relevant fields to take respective topics. Some experts will also be needed to guide the students and/ or assess the dissertations. Many field trips will have to be organised.

The expenses will arise from

1. Faculty remuneration

2. classroom and other incidentals

3. Field visits

4. Study material

5. administrative costs 

MY EXPERIENCE OF HOME COMPOSTING 2

Around 2009, I read somewhere that composting is a natural process and ‘happens all the time”. The thought stayed with me and I thought I should try it out. So I began to collect all the kitchen waste in gardening containers with a layer of soil in between two days’ stuff. It looked ok for a few days and then it started leaking- so I loaded the whole thing onto another container with soil and it was ok. A few weeks later, I got the shock of my life when I discovered my unit had been attacked by rodents and what a revolting mess it was! I wished I never should have got into it. Gathering my wits by me, I tidied it- with more containers and fortified it with mesh. Still the rodents were not discouraged. So I shifted the unit to under my kitchen sink.

Now rodents had no access. Next problem was- even after 2 months everything was looking as I had put it and there was no sign of any process of composting. (This was before the internet compost coaching was common or maybe I had not yet taken to it.) Plus I needed soil and containers. I was accumulating stuff at such pace that I was running out of space and time to be able to deal with it. I thought I should add some microbes to hurry the process so I began to add curds or buttermilk. It helped somewhat by slightly hurrying the process. But still it took 3-4 months to get processed and considering that much of it was soil, the net amount of compost generated was miniscule. Sol I could manage only part of the waste generated and rest of it went to the dump.

Then I met Aniruddha and stumbled on Bokashi. Bokashi is quite elegant and incredible method of composting. First I tried with simple homemade system. It consisted of two sets of a pair of cheap plastic bins nesting into one another (total 4). It turned out to be much easier than what I was doing and I was able to process much more waste than earlier and it did not need day to day inputs. The problem was I still had logistical issues managing the leachate and burying the bokashi. In the early phase, I used to be very unpopular with folks at home who had to put up with the strong smells twice a week. Even my 5 year old son began to resent ‘compost’. Plus I was still not able to manage full volume. This was around 2012. After 6 months of struggling with this, I ordered the ‘Ecobin’ kit. I will say, I am a satisfied customer of this product and my composting journey reached destination with this final move.

It took me almost a year and a half to perfect the method...mainly because I was really not too sincere initially. Now a single scrap of organic waste does not leave my house. I have extended it use to my workplace- where it works fine 90pc of the time. It goes bad when staff change or some misunderstanding occurs...otherwise its going fine. The bin sits imperceptibly in the reception area doing its work quietly.

So folks, I have spent close to a decade perfecting the composting solution for my home. It need not actually take so much time. For the first 7-8 years I was like a rolling stone, constantly changing track. With bokashi, I stuck around and learned rapidly. I am somewhat curious by nature and continue to explore composting methods because I am totally fascinated by composting. My next challenge is going to be scaling up and I am hoping that my participation in the swacch parle abhiyaan gives me a chance to learn this bit.