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1. Introduction:
Most of the world’s rivers have become dumping yards for
urban communities. As a result,
river-centric settlements are seriously threatened. The
first chapter begins with a quick look at the alarming
status
of rivers across the world. This is followed by an update on
the state of rivers in India and the peculiarities of the
Kerala situation. Acknowledging that it is the flawed
understanding of rivers that is responsible for many of the
problems, this chapter sets the tone for the rest of the
book.
2.
Rivers: An in-depth exploration of their bio-diversity:
This chapter explains how a river is not just a
waterway, but also a bountiful cradle of biodiversity. It
shows how a
small stream grows into a large river and how the river
changes the landscape that created it. The chapter also
explains in very simple language the myriad natural features
that are created by this process. In addition, this
section of the book touches on the environmental
significance of rivers and shows how their rich biodiversity
matters. The chapter rests on the premise that only deep
understanding of the bio-diversity of rivers can help us
tackle the real issues that threaten the environment.
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