ABSTRACT Pune is rapidly expanding spatially due to changes in land use and occupational patterns. Large number of open green spaces has taken its toll on the city in the last few years. Due to the presence of rich biodiversity in the hills, the Biodiversity Park (BDP) was proposed in the development plan 2006-2012 in order to increase and conserve the green cover of the city. BDP is vulnerable to illegal urban development, both in terms of squatters of urban poor and bungalows of the wealthier sections of society. 4% construction on BDP was proposed between 2009 and 20111. Environmentalists, middle class citizens led in large number, an online petition-campaign signature. to stop Government, politicians and builders to construct on hills. The aim of the study was to integrate Biodiversity park conservation and regeneration in city planning. The analysis was carried out on two lines. Firstly, it focused on the changing urbanisation pattern in Pune with respect to hill ecosystem. Secondly, it explored the relationship between urban development and degenerating hills of Pune city. Through primary survey it was found that the land use on hills was majorly divided in to two i.e. Government owned and privately owned. The land ownership and land use on studied hills namely Baner, Vetal and Bavdhan, Warje, Parvati pachgaon had a remarkable difference in land conditions where the privately owned land was greatly being degraded and also subject to encroachment. However politicians. and builders. selfish interest pose a major hurdle in the implementation of BDP. Secondly also the reluctant behaviour from Municipal Corporation in implementation of BDP due high cost of land acquisition remains a major issue. Recommendation in the form of effective governance through biodiversity management committee for implementation and management of proposed BDP was framed. The study also recommended TDR as a development tool and innovative approach for land acquisition. CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 18 1.1 Urbanisation in India 18 1.2 Urban sprawl in Indian Cities 19 1.3 Impact of urbanisation on Environment 20 1.4 Need for Urban Environment Conservation 21 1.5 Biodiversity Park (BDP) as an Effort 21 1.6 Need for the study 23 1.7 Research question 24 1.8 Aim 24 1.9 Objectives 24 1.10 Overall approach 24 1.11 Methodology 25 2.0 Literature review 30 2.1 Case studies 35 2.1.1 Case study of Aravalli Biodiversity Park (ABP) 35 2.1.2 Case study of Yamuna Biodiversity Park 36 2.1.3 Inference 37 3.0 Urbanisation in Pune and Environmental Implications 38 3.1 City Overview 38 3.1.1 History 38 3.1.2 Physical Settings and Climate 39 3.1.3 Biodiversity hotspot 40 3.1.4 The Growth in Population and Area 41 3.1.5 Change in Land use 42 3.2 Process of urbanisation on hill ecosystem 43 3.2.1 Past 43 3.2.2 Present 43 3.2.3 Future 43 4.0 Linkages between hill ecosystem and city 44 4.1 Ecosystem services on hill ecosystem 45 4.1.1 Regulating services Local climate and Air quality regulation 45 4.1.2 Provisioning services Fresh water 46 4.1.3 Habitat services Habitat for species 47 4.1.4 Cultural services 48 4.2 Impact of urbanisation: BDP preservation and Housing conflict . 50 4.2.1 Profile of the hills on identified BDP area 51 4.2.2 Comparative analysis of the hills 60 4.2.3 Key stakeholders perception on implementation of BDP 64 4.3 initiatives taken for conservation and regeneration 65 4.3.1 Governments initiative 65 4.3.2 People and NGOs initiative 67 4.4 Inference 69 5.0 Action Plan for Implementation of BDP 70 5.1 Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) 70 5.2 Strategy for Land Acquisition 71 5.2.1 TDR as a development tool 71 5.3 Way forward 75 6.0 Bibliography 76