Urbanisation and Demand for Wetland Ecosystem Services: Evidence from Kerala, India

The wetlands in Kerala face numerous challenges as a result of the growing population’s increased pressure on land and unscientific tourism activities. The present research tries to fill the gap in the literature regarding the change in the demand for ecosystem services or the shift in occupational structure of the beneficiaries of the surrounding population of Kavvayi associated with urbanisation. The research investigates the impact of plastic waste on the demand for recreational benefits at Kavvayi Lake. The study reveals that a sustainable utilization of wetland resources in the context of urbanization has been identified as a viable management strategy formulated by the local self-government in Payyanur.