Forecasting Coastal Land Cover using past trends with the estimation of degraded Ecosystems

 / Research / In-House /GEO/ Forecasting Coastal Land Cover using Past Trends with Estimation of Degraded Ecosystems

The Project

The Indian coast has a diverse range of coastal landscape with a high biodiversity index.The Indian coast hosts a variety of coastal terrain features with high biodiversity index.Natural coastal terrain features plays a significant rolein the protection of the coast and its dependents.These ecosystems render significant service to the coasts and to the local communities. Due to disproportional developmental activities along the coast, these natural ecosystems has declined manifold in the recent decades and have directly or indirectly affected the stability of the coasts. This study envisages the assessment of recent temporal changes in the terrain coastal features and in certain coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes and mudflats between the period 2000 – 2030 using high resolution satellite images and forecast their status for the next two decades using past trends along the mainland coasts of the country. Periodic assessment of the status of these coastal terrain features may provide more insight information for policy makers to initiate preparatory, conservational and management policies for better management of the inevitable developing coastal zone.

Aim

  • To map the Natural Coastal Terrain Features (NCTF) along the mainland coast for the three decades (2000 – 2020).

  • To study temporal changes in the NCTF.

  • To forecast the status of NCTF in 2030 using their past trends

  • To create spectral catalogue of selected coastal vegetation.

  • To delineate coastal vegetation stresses zones and to determine the causes for deterioration

  • To identify and suggest strategic plans for their restoration using geospatial techniques

  • To develop a geospatial database on past, present and future trends of NCTF

Pilot areas

Pilot areas includes Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, Muthukadu in Tamil Nadu, Kochi in Kerala and Aghnashini Estuary in Karnataka.

Key Findings

  • The spectral signatures of significant coastal features such as mangroves, salt marshes, mudflats and other associate features were collected using high resolution spectro radiometer for certain coastal stretches.
  • Coastal stretches with deteriorating as well as rejuvenated mangrove ecosystem were assessed for the period 2000 to 2030. stretch due to human intervention.

Outcomes

  • Spectral database of salt marsh, mangroves species, beach flora, water flora and associated species were prepared.
  • Spectral catalogues of coastal vegetation for vegetation stress studies.
  • Changes in the coastal land cover features for the period 2000 to 2020.
  • Predicted NCTF status in 2030 using past trends.
  • Strategic plan for restoration and afforestation for selected pilot areas.

 Spectral reflectance curve of seven salt marsh species collected using pistol grip method plant probe and pistol grip methods

Field Survey Sites