Periurban Transformations in the Global South and Their Impact on Water-Based Livelihoods

Abstract

Urban sprawl and population increase are fundamentally transforming periurban areas in the Global South. These areas often suffer from inadequate environmental planning, resulting in water sources being overexploited, degraded, and redistributed. These processes affect water-based livelihoods due to disadvantages in water access and inadequate water governance. On the positive side, these transformation processes are leading to alternative water-based livelihoods. We systematically review and critically comment on the literature on water-based livelihoods in periurban areas of the Global South to provide the current scientific knowledge on this topic. Transformations of water-based livelihoods in periurban areas were also evaluated in terms of their sustainability. We conclude that rapid developments of periurban areas contain threats and potentials for water-based livelihoods and some emerging water-based livelihoods, whereas some emerging water-based livelihoods provide interim solutions for institutional supply gaps. Major lacunae in research are the (1) lack of holistic approaches, which address social dimensions of transformations, (2) the lack of studies applying a differentiated perspective on neighbouring areas within the urban fringe and (3) a lack of knowledge on emerging (water-based) livelihoods.

Changing Hydrosocial Cycles in Periurban India

“…Among them are obvious ones-like farming, animal husbandry, fishing and aquaculture-but also less obvious ones such as floriculture, brick making, pottery, laundry services, car wash services or tanning. Among them periurban agriculture so far received most attention in the literature [3]. For farmers, water is a decisive input factor, that is getting under pressure through periurbanisation [47][48][49][50].…”

“…The effects of this powerful process are not limited to the cities proper, but also affect the periurban spaces surrounding these cities. These periurban interfaces are spaces of flows, shaped by an exchange of matter, people and ideas between urban and rural spaces [3]. They are characterized by high heterogeneity of land uses [4,5], actors with often conflicting interests [6] and inadequate governance structures [7][8][9].…”

“…The urban transformation results in an intensification of flows between urban and periurban areas, infrastructural developments connecting the urban and the periurban, the development of settlement structures and the emergence of new economic activities, like industries. Yet, Land 2021, 10, 263 2 of 22 urbanization processes do not necessarily result in the shift of periurban spaces to urban spaces, but that they can also follow different development pathways within the larger agglomerations and thus deliver for example important ecosystem services [3].…”

Modelling Land Cover Changes in Peri-Urban Areas: A Case Study of George Town Conurbation, Malaysia

“…In that study, the focus was on the dynamic and multi-functionality of peri-urban areas and proposed a non-linear perspective on peri-urban development [29]. The study showed that peri-urban areas are very important, since they provide linkages between urban-rural areas connecting two cities across many nations [25].…”

“…Furthermore, urban development has brought positive impact in terms of providing a market from newly developed residential areas for agricultural products [6]. In addition, local communities have gained socio-economic benefits by providing services, such as childcare, cleaning services, and providing food services for middle-income dwellers in peri-urban areas [23,25].…”