Peri-urban lake ecosystem governance: a systematic inquiry of actor-resource relationships in the peri-urban region of Ahmedabad, India

Peri-urban lake ecosystems undergo socio-ecological transformations driven by rapid urbanization, economic growth, and land use changes, resulting in habitat loss, degraded water quality, and altered livelihood patterns. These impacts are exacerbated by conflicting activities and practices of actors with diverse roles and competing interests in lake resource use and function. While societal and economic uses of lakes are broadly understood, knowledge about actor-resource interactions in the peri-urban remains scarce. Addressing this gap is crucial for anticipating effective resource governance, management, and conservation. This study applies an actor-resource interaction framework that examines actor values, perceptions, and practices and their interactions with peri-urban lake ecosystems in the peri-urban region of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. India. We combine geospatial data, socio-ecological surveys, and actor interviews to characterise the spatial-ecological setting and governance interactions. The analysis reveals a landscape is dominated of small, hydrologically connected lakes vulnerable to degradation. Actors prioritize cultural and provisioning ecosystem services, highlighting conflicting interests and power asymmetries, which together lead to governance challenges. These insights on the peri-urban lake governance advance the understanding of how diverse actor – resource interactions mediate ecological outcomes. The analysis closes with suggestions for inclusive and evidence-based planning and governance of peri-urban lake ecosystems.