Uploaded on 2015-12-15 by sharan_k

*FOOD :* National Geographic ranked Chennai as world's 2nd best food city and Chennai was the only Indian city to feature in the list. few crops are grown in Chennai . Paddy is one of the major crop grown. coconuts and groundnuts are also grown here![enter image description here][1] *WATER SORCE :* city lacks a perennial water source, catering the water requirements of the population has remained an arduous task. Although three rivers flow through the metropolitan region and drain into the Bay of Bengal, Chennai has historically relied on annual monsoon rains to replenish its water reservoirs since the rivers are polluted with sewage. With the population increasing over the decades, the city has faced water supply shortages, and its ground water levels have been depleted. An earlierVeeranam Lake project aimed at augmenting the city's water supply failed. However, the New Veeranam project, which became operational in September 2004, has greatly reduced dependency on distant sources. In recent years, heavy and consistent monsoon rains and rainwater harvesting (RWH) by Chennai Metro Water at its Anna Nagar Rain Centre have significantly reduced water shortages. Moreover, newer projects like the Telugu Ganga project, which brings water from water-surplus rivers such as the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh, have eased water shortages. The city has constructed a couple of sea water desalination plants to further increase the water supply, with the two functioning since 2010 and 2013, respectively. A third one has been planned. However, Chennai is expected to face a huge deficit of 713 million litres per day (MLD) as the demand is projected at 2,248 MLD and supply estimated at only 1,535 MLD in 2026. *MEDICAL RESOURCES :* There has been a resurgence in the consumption and demand for medicinal plants. These plants are finding use as pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals, cosmetics and food supplements. Even as traditional source of medicines and they continue to play pivotal rule. Distribution of Medicinal plants In Chennai farm six varieties of medicinal plants are cultivated in five acres to meet the fresh herb requirements for the production of herbal hair tonic, other medicated oils and also supplied to pharmacy at Arignar Anna Govt. Hospital for Indian medicine and Homoeopathy, Chennai. Another 150 varieties of medicinal plants are maintained in the parts as reference material. The farm is also visited by the students of all systems of Indian Medicine. Leading practitioners of Indian Medicine also make use of this farm as their reference for medicinal plants. This farm is very popular and has contributed for herbal awareness in Chennai City. The farm participates in the exhibitions conducted by Educational Institutions,Trade fairs and seminars/conferences in the city. The public are also encouraged to buy the medicinal plants at low prices to enhance the importance and awareness of herbal medicines.![enter image description here][2] *RAW MATERIAL:* No, raw materials for construction is extracted ,but we do have fuel source . The crude throughput for the year 2011-12 was 10.557 million metric tonnes (MMT). **Regulating services** *Climate :* city is experiencing tropical dissymmetric climate and receiving bulk of the rainfall during north-east monsoon (September-December). Mean temperature and rainfall were 24-37 °C and 1300 mm [16]. East-side of the city is bounded by the Bay of Bengal and remaining three sides are bordered with Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts. air quality ,Carbon sequestration and storage , Erosion prevention and maintenance of soil fertility Sadly, Chennai is the least green covered metropolitan city (21%) in India and has very less, 0.46 m 2 green cover/city dweller, it is very less as per WHO norms, it suggests 9.0 m2 green cover for each city dwellers compared to urban forests of some USA cities trees of CMC are less potent in terms of CO2 absorption, O2 production, C sequestration, and stem diameter growth yr-1 . Studies of this kind with large study areas are essential to reveal the actual potential of trees and urban forests in CMC. Pre-tested species selection and planting of relatively high C sequestering trees on vacant lands, river banks and parks, and nurturing, caring them to perform well could significantly reduce the CO2 concentration, pollution and UHI effects in CMC. This study is an initial step towards the understanding of ecosystem services and roles of urban forests of CMC. CMC is the least green covered (9.5%; [34,35]) metropolitan city in India hence government authorities, urban planners, city developers and managers should allot more funds and allocate additional space for trees to increase green spaces. But Chennai's urban forest is relatively superior to many urban forests of the world in terms of stand basal area and species richness. *Moderation of extreme events: - destruction of such service .* Velachery – one of Chennai's fastest growing suburb was severely flooded in November 2005. The reason being 20 years ago the area had a wetland, which occupied over 225 acres. The pressure of urbanisation meant that the lake had to be shrunk and land to be reclaimed. After the reclamations and illegal encroachments the wetland shrunk to only 25% of its original area (i.e., 54 acres). The consequence of these reclamations is that the rainwater instead of going into the lake enters homes and offices. Same is the situation in some other suburbs. The city that used to have over 270 small lakes now has just over 10 lakes.1 As a result of this, any heavy downpour results in immediate water logging and loss of property. And so did it repeat again at recent floods . ** Habitat or Supporting services** Habitats for species and the Maintenance of genetic diversity unique landscape of Chennai , with its mountains, lakes, seafront, marshes and two rivers running through it... and this diverse habitat sustained a wide variety of wildlife wild-life (in its original form) continues to inhabit the city, even if some of the sighted species today, like the pangolin and the peacocks have been taken for new arrivals. He cites as wildlife havens Guindy National Park, the Theosophical Society and the campuses of Madras Christian College, IIT-Madras and Anna University - starting points from where various species can repopulate the city the recent discovery of Giant Wood Spider at Guindy, a place that is closely associated with the ecological history of the city. Tho, Much of this landscape is now degraded by development . ![enter image description here][3] The southern stretch of Chennai's coast from Tiruvanmiyur to Neelangarai are favored by the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles to lay eggs every winter. A large number of cattle egrets, pond herons and other waterbirds can be seen in the rivers of Cooum and Adyar. About 75,000 birds migrate to Chennai every year.Marshy wetlands such as Pallikaranai also play host to a number of migratory birds during the monsoon and winter. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded in the city and its neighborhood by members of Madras Naturalists' Societysince its inception in 1978. Guindy National Park is a protected area within the city limits. Wildlife conservation and research activities take place at Arignar Anna Zoological Park including Olive ridley sea turtleconservation. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is a herpetology research station, located 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Chennai. It is India's leading institution for herpeto faunal conservation and the first crocodile breeding center in Asia. **Cultural services** *Recreation and mental and physical health* -![enter image description here][4] Chennai beaches provide the best recreation , more over a morning walk at Chennai beach , catching the sunset , its a wonderful way to start the day .![enter image description here][5] *Spiritual experience and sense of place* Debate with a philosopher in the suburbs ![enter image description here][6] A calm space for contemplation on the banks of the Adyar River, the Theosophical Society owes its existence to an eccentric Russian occultist, Helena Blavatsky, who became obsessed with the spiritualism of the east on a trip to India in the 1870s. Inspired by the teachings of eastern mystics, Blatavsky founded a new philosophical movement with the goal of forming 'a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or color'. It was a noble ambition, and the centre she founded in the Chennai suburbs had a major influence on modern schools of Buddhist and Hindu thought. Visitors are free to browse the library, listen to debates and view the banyan tree in the grounds, said to be India's largest. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1450137047301472.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501371518021447.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501368316153499.jpg [4]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501380725304199.jpg [5]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501380458083559.jpg [6]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501382177339033.jpg