Centre for Urban Ecology and Sustainability

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Centre for Urban Ecology and Sustainability

Centre for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES) is established by Ambedkar University Delhi.

The Centre for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES) aims to (1) address urban ecological issues with a view to offer solutions, and (2) develop a skilled cohort of professionals who actively engage in, and find solutions for urban ecological challenges. Such a Centre would serve as a focal point where researchers, locals, government, non-government and private agencies can converge and particip

ate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of sustainable environmental projects in cites. CUES will also collaborate with other schools and centres in AUD like School of Development Studies (SDS), School of Design (SD), Centre for Community Knowledge (CCK) on areas of common interest and build linkages with teaching and research programmes within the University to provide students with hands-on learning, field practicum and engaged scholarship opportunities. It is also expected that the Centre will host interactions and dialogues between other universities, and other organizations in the city and beyond interested in common themes.

19/02/2026

Campus Bird Count 2026 at Dheerpur Wetland 🐦🌿

What a beautiful morning of birding, learning, and collaboration! The Campus Bird Count 2026 at Dheerpur Wetland brought together students, faculty, and nature enthusiasts for a meaningful session of observing and documenting our feathered friends.

The energy, curiosity, and teamwork of everyone involved truly made this count a success ✨

🌾 Major sightings included:

• Coppersmith Barbet
• Common Rosefinch
• Red-whiskered Bulbul
• Red-wattled Lapwing
• Brown-headed Barbet
• Red-naped Ibis
• Bluethroat
• Black Redstart
• Black-winged Stilt
• Black Kite
• Alexandrine Parakeet
• Indian White-eye

Grateful for the vibrant biodiversity right on our campus and for a community that shows up for conservation 💚

citizenscience

13/11/2024

"Highlights from the recent nature walk at the Dheerpur Wetland Restoration Project Site! 🌿

Organized by .india and hosted by , this event brought together nature enthusiasts and restoration practitioners for an insightful experience. Participants enjoyed a guided walk and in-depth discussion led by Prof. Suresh Babu, Director of CUES, who shared the project's goals and challenges in ongoing restoration efforts. Attendees gained hands-on insights into the project's history and vision, explored the landscape, observed native species making a comeback, and learned about the intricacies of managing and restoring urban wetland ecosystems."
We thank all the participants for joining us.

04/10/2024

Among the most elegant wading birds, egrets are a common sight in wetlands, marshes, and shorelines. These graceful birds are known for their long necks, slender bodies, and stunning white plumage.

🌿 Meet the Great Egret 🌿
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) stands out with its majestic size and striking appearance. With a wingspan of nearly 5 feet, it’s one of the largest egrets. They are expert fish hunters, often seen gliding over water before patiently stalking prey in the shallows.

Amidst the lush green expanse of rice fields near Najafgarh Jheel, a group of elegant egrets can often be seen gliding and foraging in harmony with the land.Their presence is more than just beautiful—it’s a natural indicator of the wetland’s health and the surrounding agricultural areas. The rice fields near Najafgarh Jheel provide the perfect habitat for these birds, offering both food and a safe nesting ground.

📸 Vaibhav Tomar and Rishabh Duhoon

23/07/2024

🌿✨ Spotted at Najafgarh Lake! ✨🌿

Our CUES team observed an incredible 49 bird species last week, including the magnificent Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). These wetland waders are true specialists, thriving in the diverse habitats of larger lakes, lagoons, rivers, marshes, tidal creeks, and mangroves. 🌊🦩

Did you know? 🧐 The Spoonbill's unique beak shape, resembling a spatula, helps them feed by sweeping through mud or shallow water. Controlling water depth and reducing human activities are key to maximizing conservation efforts for these beautiful birds.

Najafgarh Lake, despite lacking a formal conservation strategy, continues to be a vital sanctuary for many water-fauna species. Let's cherish and protect our wetlands for the amazing biodiversity they support! 🌏💚

Pic credits :

08/07/2024

Every November, the majestic Greater Flamingos migrate to various parts of India, staying until the monsoon season in June. In the Delhi NCR region, traditional stopovers for these birds were Okhla and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. However, Najafgarh Lake has now become their preferred destination.

In June 2018, the CUES team recorded a remarkable count of 565 flamingos at this previously unrecognized water body. Najafgarh Lake once spanned 300 square km until the water was drained after 1960s by Delhi's Flood Control Department, reducing its size to only 8 sq. km.

Despite its beauty, the lake has faced challenges. Since the 1960s, municipal sewage from the city has been flowing into Sahibi River which feeds Najafgarh Lake. Additionally, industrial effluents from Haryana and other drains under construction have contributed to the pollution of lake.

Yet, amidst this urban toxicity, nature finds a way to persist. On 3rd July 2024, we observed over 150 flamingos foraging in the shallow, brackish waters, a mix of municipal sewage and industrial effluents.

🌿✨

07/11/2023

The Trumpet Tail, also known as Acisoma panorpoides, thrives in environments near ponds, pools, marshy areas, and stagnant freshwater rich in vegetation. Their striking blue eyes and the captivating blue-black pattern across their bodies make them particularly noteworthy, including the equally impressive female of the species.

These dragonflies serve as crucial indicators of ecosystem health and quality, playing a significant role in controlling pest populations near human habitats. However, the rapid urbanisation poses a threat to their natural habitats.

Is it possible to undertake conservation efforts for the Trumpet Tail dragonflies in the face of these challenges? Despite the looming threats, there exists significant potential for their conservation. The image illustrates a specialist organism thriving in a moderately polluted environment due to the presence of necessary vegetation that sustains this species.

The success witnessed in the Dheerpur Wetland Project serves as a testament, offering a habitat for numerous species. The fundamental query persists: Can urban areas be purposefully designed to create varied habitats suitable for diverse species, including the Trumpet Tail?

27/09/2023

Blister beetles 🪲 , members of the Meloidae family within the Coleoptera order, produce a potent blistering agent upon skin contact. They exhibit conspicuous colouring due to their evolved defence mechanism involving cantharidin, a highly toxic chemical, effectively deterring predators.

Their larval stage employs a fascinating life strategy by parasitising wild bees 🐝 and grasshoppers. Larvae release pheromones that mimic female bee scents, misleading male bees in search of mates. These deceived male bees carry the larvae to their burrows, unknowingly providing access to nectar, pollen and bee eggs.

25/09/2023

From daily necessities like milk packets, water bottles, packaged food, and its use in construction purposes to its importance in medical science, the durability of plastic makes it a product of utmost utility to human beings.
But there is a trade-off for the resultant boon of services.

Its durability may prolong its degradation for centuries. It usually enters into various habitats through abiotic agents like air and water. Entanglement of plastic leading to lethal damage and ingestion resulting in bioaccumulation are two typical ways of physical damage to organisms.

The photograph was taken at National Institute of Plant Genome Research. Here, Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and Pigs (Sus domesticus) can be seen feeding on garbage.

But what is more interesting is that microplastics can also be captured by non-living things. For example, “plastiglomerates” are a new type of “rocks” composed of sediments and melted plastics or “plasticrust” which is a rocky surface encrusted by plastic debris.
Photo credits: Shashank ( )

21/09/2023

This poignant image captures a Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) amidst a sea of plastic waste, a stark reminder that understanding and addressing the ecological consequences of pollution is crucial for a sustainable future.

The third week of September every year is celebrated as Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, to remind us to delve into the profound importance of research, innovation, and collective action in safeguarding our planet.
Photo credits: Yashashshri ( )

20/09/2023

This week’s word: Myrmecophily. It refers to the symbiotic relationships among ants 🐜 and a variety of other organisms like plants 🌱, arthropods 🕷️ 🐞, fungi, etc.

Ant nests and their surrounding territories represent a hoard of trophic resources, as well as stable and protected environments for many arthropods involved in commensal, mutualistic, or parasitic associations. Myrmecophily is found in a wide range of organisms, including insects, spiders, plants, and fungi. These relationships have evolved through time, resulting in diverse adaptations and strategies that allow myrmecophiles to coexist with ants and exploit the benefits of this association.

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https://cuesonline.org/home/

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