Anthropogenic impact on ecosystem service value of urban blue space in Old Malda Municipality of eastern India

Present study attempted to quantify the anthropogenic impact on blue space (BS) and potential ecosystem service value (ESV) and link them. A small urban area of eastern India was taken as a case. To fulfill the purpose, the primary data extracted from the field was used. Firstly, an anthropogenic impact score (AIS) comprising eight components was calculated using rank compositing. ESV was estimated with the help of the Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) approach of the Ramsar convention. Rank correlation was carried out for linking AIS and ESV. Results show that 70% of BS is characterized by moderate to high levels of anthropo-driven impacts. Landscape, habitat, and pollution were detected as prime vectors behind these impacts. The impacts were higher in the core urban area. Contrarily, the potential ESV was found to be higher in the peripheral BS units. Most of the blue space failed to offer remarkable provisions and cultural services. However, the regulating services were recorded to have better status. The study clearly reported a negative association between AIS and ESV in BS. Conversion of BS, habitat alteration, pollution, and lack of restoration were found to have very prominent negative effects on ESV. Minimizing such anthropogenic impacts could improve the ESV credibility of urban blue spaces.