Review of depleting coastal resource areas in GODAVARI delta upon human interventions, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The coastal environment is home to a wide range of landforms and landscapes. Coastal resources like beaches, mangroves, sand dunes, sand spit, mud flat and sandy area are common along the stretch of Godavari delta in Andhra Pradesh coast. This study aims to assess the changes in the coastal resources in Godavari delta to evaluate its present ecological status and to map various coastal natural resources in the delta region with the use of latest tools like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System. Using IRS satellite data, the natural coastal resources were prepared for the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2015. Based on the richness of natural resources, the delta region was divided into four resource areas and the status of natural resources was analyzed within the identified resource areas. It is inferred that there was a 10% loss in the spatial extent of natural resources during 1990–2015. The study facilitates better scientific insight of areas that require effective conservation and management plans to improve and protect natural resources so as to sustain the delta region of Godavari from further depletion.