Transition Modelling of Land Use Land Cover Dynamics in Bardez Taluka of Goa-India (1991-2021)

Abstract

In the age of global climate change, land use and land cover mapping help us to understand the vital modifications taking place in our environment. LULC mapping assumes great significance in planning, management of resources and keeping track of various programmes at different levels. The data acquired from the land use and land cover investigations are vital for policy formulation and sustainable development of our towns, cities and villages and also to track the disorganized growth of urban areas. Tourism is a tool for economic development in many developing countries of the world. The unplanned tourism growth has led to many ecological problems. This study makes an earnest effort to examine the LULC change using the transition model in the Bardez taluka, which is a well-known global tourist destination in Goa, India. The study has been investigated by using satellite imageries and GIS technologies have been used to analyse the changes occurring in LULC patterns for the years 1991, 2001 and 2021. The result indicates that the area under the built-up class has increased substantially by 11.12 sq. km. as a result of the rise in commercialization, tourism growth and tourism-related activities. Bardez taluka is known for some of the most breath-taking beaches in the world. During 2019-20, just before Covid-19, about 25, 33,234 domestic and 2, 74,840 foreign tourists visited the enchanting beaches of Bardez taluka. Land use classes such as residential, commercial and services, industrial, transportation and utilities also witnessed the growth in their land use and land cover classes whereas classes like agricultural land, coconut plantation, cashew plantation, barren land, DM and FDM forest land, open scrub and fairly dense scrub witnessed a negative change in their class values.