Assessment of Land Cover Change Hotspots in Gulf of Kachchh, India Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data and GIS

Abstract

Remote sensing is an indispensable tool for assessing and monitoring land use/land cover changes and supports in planning appropriate conservation measures. This study has analysed the status and distribution of different land use/land cover from 1977 to 2015 and identified the land use/land cover change hotspots in Gulf of Kachchh region, India. The total mangrove area has increased from 140.5 km2 to 700.2 km2 from 1977 to 2015. Among all the different time periods the highest rate of mangrove expansion was found between 2008 to 2011. The results indicate that during the past four decades, mangrove, salt pans and built-up land have been increased by 79.9 %, 84 % and 93.8 % respectively. About 21.4 km2 of mangroves was converted to salt pans and built-up land from 1977 to 2015. Annual rate of afforestation was estimated as 7.01, 12.58, 16.03 and 4.73 for 1999–2006, 2006–2008, 2008–2011 and 2011–2015. Hotspot analysis has identified 33 positive and 11 negative change land cover hotspots in Gulf of Kachchh. Strict management policies are required to prevent further loss of mangroves and conservation of ecologically unique ecosystem of Gulf of Kachchh.