Eco-system Complementarities and Urban Encroachment: A SWOT Analysis of the East Kolkata Wetlands, India

To understand the complex process caused by the plants, microorganisms, soil matrix and substances in the wastewater and their interactions with sunshine in a hot and humid climate, researchers from different corners of the globe are taking keen interest in the functioning of the East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) as a tutorial ecosystem. However, due to excessive pressure of urban sprawl of Kolkata, a densely populated metropolitan city, this system is facing some threats to sustenance over the decades. This paper attempts to illustrate the inherent nature of eco-system complementarities between the city of Kolkata and EKW, threats imparted by the recent urban developments, inadequacy of the regulatory initiatives taken for its protection and would indicate the untapped opportunities as well as weaknesses, by carrying out a SWOT analysis