resources
This is a growing collection of materials emerging from the Bengaluru Sustainability Forum’s work, including outputs from the Small Grants Programme and other outreach initiatives, and other material relevant to the city and areas of concern — to help deepen engagement and support informed dialogue across disciplines.
The resources span a range of formats: reports, toolkits, games, maps, guides, and more — developed by individuals and organisations engaging with questions of sustainability in and around Bengaluru. They are intended to be shared, adapted, and used in diverse contexts.
You’ll find resources suited for children, youth, educators, citizen activists, researchers, and others invested in shaping a more sustainable urban future.
Resources can be explored by year, format, focus area, or audience.
Who Feeds Bengaluru?
This project explored the relationship between the city and plants through a two-day workshop that included talks, conversations and a little bit of cooking and creating. The webinar was part of a digital exhibition (Phytopia) organised by Science Gallery Bengaluru, Edible Issues and Bengaluru Sustainability Forum.
Know MorePerception Study on Air Quality
Aishwarya Sudhir offers an understanding of the prevalent condition of air quality in Bengaluru, along with ideas and solutions initiated by citizens and interviews with health professionals on how to combat air pollution.
Know MoreAirpocalypse: Assessment of Air Pollution in Indian Cities
A snapshot of the state of air quality, along with an emissions inventory for various pollutants. It also suggests measures to reduce pollution and provides a road map for air quality management in Bengaluru.
Know MoreAir Quality Monitor
Grantees worked on an air quality monitor called Breathe and also organised an air quality awareness workshop along with a DIY AQM.
Know MoreStories of Resilience
Video stories of people and resilience from neighbourhoods like Sarjapura, Bannerghatta, Byramangala, Chikballapur and Pastoralists.
Know MoreBuilding Biodiversity in Neighbourhood Parks in Bengaluru: Ordinary yet Essential
Analysing the value of small-sized neighbourhood parks present in most of the city, and their role as vital environmental spaces that protect the city's biodiversity.
Know MoreLizards from suburban areas learn faster to stay safe
Using the Indian rock agama Psammophilus dorsalis, this study demonstrates that populations in the suburban study area have experienced rapid and dramatic changes to their habitat within and across generations, which are unlike those experienced by rural lizards that live on undisturbed rocky outcrops.
Know MoreBiodiversity and the City: Challenges for India
Harini Nagendra, Professor of Sustainability at Azim Premji University writes on how home gardens, community gardens and sacred spaces support biodiversity, and why they should be part of urban management practices.
Know MoreIn India, Insects are Slowly Disappearing – and that is a cause for worry
Geetha Iyer writes about the threat of insect endangerment and why we should care about it.
Know MoreImplementation of India's Biodiversity Plan
Examining the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan 2011-2020.
Know MoreSay Trees
A volunteer-run environmental organisation in Bangalore focused on creating forest patches and planting drives.
Know MoreEbird
A citizen-science initiative that tracks birds in Bangalore while encouraging citizens to participate in this.
Know MorePeople for Animals
An animal rescue and wildlife rehabilitation hospital and care centre in Bangalore.
Know MoreThe Nature of Cities
A virtual magazine and a discussion site for dialogue and solutions for cities.
Know MoreProject Vruksha
An eco initiative to quantify biodiversity through a scientific tree census and a biodiversity portal.
Know MoreBengaluru's Climate Change History and Lessons to Learn
An article on the city's climate change history.
Know MoreDivecha Centre for Climate Change
Part of the Indian Institute of Science to understand climate variability and its impact on the environment.
Know MoreA Million Wells for Bengaluru
An article on how wells and water harvesting can work and offset dry weather conditions.
Know MoreHow to Dig a Recharge Well
An article on how to dig a recharge well, complements the earlier article - both are in Citizen matters.
Know MoreUrban Water Supply and Sanitation in India
A study by IIHS on the challenges of urban water and sanitation, an analysis, its impact on public health.
Know MoreUrban Waters
A website that brings together all the practitioners working on water and its issues in the city.
Know MoreIndia Water Portal
A website on water and related issues, as an archive of resources, working papers, reports, news, events, discussions, opportunities.
Know MoreSolid Waste Management in Bengaluru - Current Scenario and Future Challenges
An overview of solid waste management in Bangalore and where it falls short of municipal regulations.
Know MoreSaahas
A non-profit working in waste management, running programmes for awareness, sensitisation and behavioural change.
Know MorePlastics for Change
A city-based non-profit working on recycling high quality plastics while providing livelihood.
Know MoreSolid Waste Management Round Table
A collective of solid waste management practitioners working on promoting decentralised sustainable solid waste management and inclusive livelihoods. The website offers resources for waste management solutions at home, and to contribute to a greener city.
Know MoreTrashonomics for Schools
A city-based teacher training programme to take waste education to schools.
Know MoreBirds in the City
Making learning fun with a board game that teaches citizens about the birds of Bengaluru.
Know MoreKnow Your Fish
This study focussed on responsible seafood culture, ocean awareness for seafood consumers, and a citizen science portal.
Know MoreCommonly Spotted Insects and Spiders in the City of Bengaluru
A guide to the city's insects and spiders for beginner naturalists and nature educators.
Know MoreBiodiversity in Bengaluru (Journalists)
A manual for journalists reporting on urban biodiversity.
Know MoreBiodiversity in Bengaluru (Scientists)
A manual for scientists communicating with journalists on urban biodiversity.
Know MoreA to Z Guide to Bengaluru's Lakes
A set of 26 illustrations that are used to examine the components of Bengaluru's lakes.
Know MoreReal Estate Developers Face Few Hurdles in Getting Environment Clearance
Bhanu Sridharan writes this three-part series on how real estate developers circumvent environment laws intended to protect biodiversity.
Know MoreSuperficial Studies and Low Transparency Make Env Clearance Process Pointless
Bhanu Sridharan writes this three-part series on how real estate developers circumvent environment laws intended to protect biodiversity.
Know MoreBiodiversity Loss from Mega Real Estate Projects: What is missing, What Can be Done?
Bhanu Sridharan writes this three-part series on how real estate developers circumvent environment laws intended to protect biodiversity.
Know MoreBengaluru’s Yes to Hesaraghatta Film-City Means a no to the Lesser Florican
Arathi Menon writes about the 356-acre Hesaraghatta grassland, the last remaining grassland habitat in Bengaluru that hosts many endangered species. While the state government mulls constructing a film city here, environmentalists have proposed a conservation reserve instead.
Know MoreCity of Blinding Lights: Artificial Light Disturbs Nature’s Processes in Bengaluru
Vimal Sinha looks at Bengaluru's extreme levels of artificial lighting and how it affects vital activities such as migration, foraging, reproduction and survival of the living beings around us.
Know MoreLivelihoods Dependent on Bengaluru Lakes can be Protected, Here’s How
Mohit M Rao writes about how lake conservation can work in tandem with protecting livelihoods.
Know MoreThe Link Between Bengaluru’s Lakes, Livelihoods and Local Memories
Mohit M Rao looks at how urbanisation has changed lakes and local communities with it.
Know MoreKatte and Kunte: The Lesser known Waterbodies of Bengaluru
Mohit M Rao looks at how urbanisation has impacted the smaller waterbodies, known locally as kattes and kuntes, and what this has meant for the city.
Know MoreBengaluru’s Biodiversity Management Committee is back in Action
Apekshita Varshney looks at how the city's Biodiversity Management Committee came about and where things stand.
Know MoreRevival and Absence of Bengaluru’s Traditional Crop Varieties
Apekshita Varshney writes about ragi and other traditional crops grown and consumed in Bengaluru.
Know MoreThe Living Museum (English)
The Living Museum is a book for adults and children that imagines nature within cities as if they were a living museum.
Know MoreThe Living Museum (Kannada)
The Living Museum is a book for adults and children that imagines nature within cities as if they were a living museum.
Know MoreThere's Nothing There (Bilingual)
A picture book by Jane Sahi, Karunya Baskar, Roshni Ravi, Anu Mothi to introduce children to nature.
Know MoreThe Suttha Muttha Project in Bengaluru is Introducing Children to the Local Biodiversity.
An article on nature education featuring Sutta Mutta, an SGP supported programme.
Know MoreThe Plant Poster Series (English, Kannada, Hindi)
A series of posters from the Sutta Muttha project, that can be used by educators to teach children about plants.
Know MoreActivity Sheets (English and Kannada)
Activity sheets to download and use in the classroom to introduce children to nature.
Know MoreSarjapura Curries
This website is an online documentation of an art/ video project on popularising edible weeds. These are being cultivated in a community garden.
Know MoreAvenue Trees in Bengaluru
A webinar by Karthikeyan S and Srinivasa TS on avenue trees of Bengaluru.
Know MoreElephants on the Zebra Crossing
A webinar by Prof. Uma Ramakrishnan with Srinivas Vaidyanathan, Dr Nishant Srinivasaiah, Anisha Jayadevan on elephant movement patterns and behaviour in periurban areas of Bengaluru to equip urban planners prevent future conflict between man and elephants.
Know MoreElephants on the Zebra Crossing
The final report of a study by Dr Nishant Srinivasaiah, Srinivas Vaidyanathan, Anisha Jayadev and Rajat Nayak on elephant movement in periurban areas of Bengaluru.
Know MoreBengaluru Biodiversity Index
A study on biodiversity conservation as part of urban planning.
Know MoreCommon Butterflies in Periurban Bengaluru (Kannada)
A guide to common butterflies, a crucial part of the ecosystem, to create awareness and appreciation.
Know MoreCommon Birds in Periurban Bengaluru (Kannada)
A guide to common birds, a crucial part of the ecosystem, to create awareness and appreciation.
Know MoreReclaiming the Commons in Periurban Bengaluru
A short documentary in Kannada on Commons, crucial components of ecosystems that serve as vital reservoirs of biodiversity and play a significant role in groundwater replenishment.
Know MoreThe Creeping Heat in Bengaluru's Neighbourhoods
A short film following a project that looked at the direct and indirect impacts of heat in Marapannapalya Ward in North Bengaluru.
Know MoreHeat in Bangalore
A heatwave guide for Marappana Palya in North Bengaluru as a reference for ward-level heatwave study and preparedness.
Know MoreDatabase of Media Coverage on Climate Change
A SGP supported project that lists 1047 articles on climate change from Mongabay, PARI, TImes of India, Down to Earth and National Geographic.
Know MoreStories of Resilience
A series of 5 films based on stories of people affected by climate change in and around Bangalore.
Know MoreWhose River is it Anyway?
A graphic narrative of the Vrishabhavati river basin that feeds the population of Bengaluru.
Know MoreEfficient Management and Value Addition from Water Hyacinth from Jakkur Lake
This was a proof of concept for an anerobic biodigestor for biomethanation of water hyacinth in Jakkur Lake.
Know MoreEvaluating and Maintaining the Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System at Sowl Kere
Sowl kere is a storm water lake but has been dry for some time. This report is on increasing the inflow of water by directing waste water from a diversion lake after passing it through a sewage treatment plant.
Know MoreDeveloping Citizen-Relevant Water Quality Criteria for Urban Lakes in Bengaluru
This study looked at how biomonitoring tools and assessment schemes can help citizens monitor water bodies more effectively for community use.
Know MoreDesigning a Framework for Integrated Urban Water Management at the Ward Level Using Two Wards as Test Beds
Responding to the water crisis in the city, this study looked at what was possible at a ward level and what is required at the governance level.
Know MoreNamma Ooru, Namma Neeru
A webinar on the water project that had culminated in a book of poetry and a mural.
Know MoreTo Identify and Remediate Dead Zone at Jakkur Lake
This study looked at identifying dead zones (with stagnant water) in lakes and rejuvenating them - monitoring for a 10 month period.
Know MoreCity Biodiversity Index
A SGP supported project to map the biodiversity details of Bengaluru.
Know MoreBrand Bengaluru Needs a Master Plan, Deccan Herald
A news report on the need to update the city master plan.
Know MoreDraft RMP-2031 for Bengaluru: Institutional Gaps and Flawed Outcomes by Sudhir Krishnaswamy
A review of the Draft Revised Master Plan.
Know MoreUrban Planning and Informal Livelihoods in India by Mathew Idiculla
An analysis of urban planning laws and processes in Delhi and Bengaluru.
Know MoreThere are no Quick-fixes to Making Indian Cities Liveable by Anjali Karol Mohan, Gayathri Muraleedharan, Anushri Tiwari
A report on the need for an updated master plan.
Know MoreBengaluru Urban Infrastructure Report 2020
A study by Knight Frank on the city’s infrastructure challenges and current scenario.
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