Urban foraging is the act of collecting greens, fruits and vegetables from urban spaces. Globally, urban foraging is gaining popularity as a movement with the intention of reclaiming nature in the city. However, in the fast-growing Indian cities, foraging has always been a method of providing foragers, mostly from lower socio-economic backgrounds, with additional income and nutrients. A study conducted in Bengaluru in 2020 found close to 76 species of wild plants that were foraged across the city.
Foragers in big cities like Bangalore have become increasingly vulnerable to the changes brought about by urbanisation. Some results of urbanisation have been fencing of urban commons like lakes and parks, privatization of commons, replacing natural vegetation with foreign species & manicured landscaping and conversion of commons to suit aesthetic purposes of the elite. This has not only resulted in a loss of foliage that was commonly foraged but has rampantly excluded people from lower socio-economic groups from accessing urban commons and from practicing foraging. It has also resulted in a loss of traditional knowledge of natural species of flora and fauna that have historically been foraged and used for food and medicines.
When we say we want our city to be greener or demand for tree drives and more nature in the city, what do we actually mean? Do we want to see more trees that are ornamental and foreign? Instead, can we see more soppu, kai, huvugalu that can be foraged and used by all for different purposes? This calls for redesigning and re-imagining urban infrastructure and environments to support the growth of wild plants that in turn can promote well being of communities who depend on foraging.
Foragers in big cities like Bangalore have become increasingly vulnerable to the changes brought about by urbanisation. Some results of urbanisation have been fencing of urban commons like lakes and parks, privatization of commons, replacing natural vegetation with foreign species & manicured landscaping and conversion of commons to suit aesthetic purposes of the elite. This has not only resulted in a loss of foliage that was commonly foraged but has rampantly excluded people from lower socio-economic groups from accessing urban commons and from practicing foraging. It has also resulted in a loss of traditional knowledge of natural species of flora and fauna that have historically been foraged and used for food and medicines.
When we say we want our city to be greener or demand for tree drives and more nature in the city, what do we actually mean? Do we want to see more trees that are ornamental and foreign? Instead, can we see more soppu, kai, huvugalu that can be foraged and used by all for different purposes? This calls for redesigning and re-imagining urban infrastructure and environments to support the growth of wild plants that in turn can promote well being of communities who depend on foraging.
