Evaluation of Land Cover changes of Mangroves along Mandovi, West Coast of India using RS and GIS

S. M. Parvez Al-Usmani

Mangroves; RS; mining; land use pattern; sediments; conservation; rehabilitation.

Mangroves habitats are highly adoptable halophytes found in intertidal regions of tropical estuaries, are threatened by variety of anthropogenic activities including mining. Many mining sites and loading points are located along the course of Mandovi estuary, West Coast Of India, Goa which sustains mangrove habitats. Mangroves are of a great significance in arresting mining rejects and recycling its constituents and have proved to be a good indicator for detecting and quantifying short-term changes in the coastal zones. Time lapse satellite data suggested changes in land use patterns. The present study showed that mangrove cover along the stretch of Mandovi increased by 116.68% during 1997-2011, a decline of 12.52% from 2001-2006. The increased in mangrove cover could be attributed to government's rehabilitation initiatives and invasion by mangroves on agricultural farms; besides a new mangrove formations in the areas on deposited mudflats between the existing mangrove and open mudflats. Isle within the mid-stream of river was noticed with more proliferation with mangroves due to sediment deposition due to mining rejects and also from spilling of ores during transported. Mangroves have inherent characteristics to withstand pollutions to certain extent due to its robust nature. All these lead to tremendous improvement of mangroves. Mining may not affect mangrove distribution (area, content and canopy cover) to greater extent but its associated biological, hydrological and sediment logical features could get adversely affected. Current findings will serve in understanding the land cover changes of mangrove habitants and in devising effective strategies for their conservation and rehabilitation.

10.22161/ijaers.5.3.5