Rural vs Urban Ecological Succession
Succession brings to mind images of princes becoming kings and heirs to kingdoms getting rights of the property after the death of the patriarch. In ordinary circumstances, succession is a private affair that has nothing to do with ecology. But in rural areas percentage of population involved in farming activities is shrinking all the time as young people are getting disenchanted with agriculture and in fact migrating to cities in search of better employment opportunities and better lifestyles. Farmlands are being left abandoned or being used for purposes other than agriculture that has grave ecological concerns. This has given birth to an almost new phrase rural ecological succession and with it has come into vogue urban ecological succession. Let us se what main differences between the two terms are.
Urban Ecological Succession
Ecological succession in urban areas does not lead to any changes that may adversely affect ecology except for a few species of birds and mammals getting endangered due to loss of green cover and construction of skyscrapers and apartments in place of bungalows. Loss of green cover, plants and trees does have long term effect on the weather in and around large cities but residents in cities do not mind it or are at least oblivious of these slow and gradual changes. People in city have adapted to new lifestyles that are not only fast, they give them very little time to think about these ecological changes. However, because of the concern being shown by environmentalists, authorities in power have started to take steps that ensure minimal adverse effect on ecology through urban succession.
Rural Ecological Succession
Ecological succession in rural areas is mostly pertaining to changes in the use of farmlands. With younger generation less enthusiastic to take up the challenges of farming, administration is gearing up with schemes to ensure that farmlands do not get converted into resorts or used for other commercial purposes. This obviously requires planning on the part of those in charge of farmlands and efforts are made by administration to provide incentives to younger generation to remain engaged with farming so that farming continues on farmlands. This is necessary for rural ecology as well as the all important food chain that is vital in maintaining enough food for the urban communities.
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Summary • How succession affects ecology in rural and urban areas is of concern for authorities of late and they have been making concerted efforts to prevent any adverse effects on ecology in general. • In urban areas, property passes into the hands of younger generation that is more inclined to converting bungalows into apartments and making shopping malls that are creating jungles of concrete and causing a loss of green cover in urban areas. • It is in rural areas where succession is proving to be far more hazardous as younger generation is not inclined to take up farming with same zeal as their forefathers. Result is that big farmlands are being converted into resorts and also being used for other commercial purposes. This has long lasting effects on rural ecology adversely affecting supply of food to urban communities as well.
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