Ramachandra, TV and Mondal, T and Negi, P and Setturu, B (2024) Visualization of ecologically sensitive regions at disaggregated levels in the Central Western Ghats. [Book Chapter]
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Abstract
The preservation and responsible stewardship of ecologically sensitive ecosystems are prerequisites in the pursuit of sustainable development, which entails understanding of the ecosystem structure and complex dynamics of ecosystem processes for recognizing contributions of ecosystem goods and services, which have been sustaining the livelihood of people. Structural change and change in the composition in a landscape would lead to irreversible changes, with an impact on the sustenance of natural resources. The current chapter explores ecologically vulnerable regions at disaggregated levels in the central Western Ghats, focusing on the Hassan district. The Western Ghats, with a repository of genetic and species diversity, is recognized as one among the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. Ecologically sensitive regions (ESRs) are delineated through an integrated overlay approach, considering bio-geo-climatic and social parameters reflecting the extent and condition of biotic and abiotic components. Assessment of land use and land cover dynamics of the Hassan district of Karnataka using temporal remote sensing (Landsat) data from 1973 to 2021 reveals that the evergreen and deciduous forest has decreased by 546.74 km2 and 49.46 km2, respectively, with an escalation in horticultural practices (by 1778.98 km2). Assessment of forest ecosystem condition through fragmentation metrics shows that the interior or contiguous forest has declined from 609.27 km2 (1973) to 244.39 km2 (2021), with intrusions of monoculture (coffee) plantations in the Sakaleshpura and Alur taluks of the district, which has escalated human-animal conflicts, with frequent instances of elephant herds invading coffee plantations and human habitations. Prediction of likely land use modelling through CA-Markov reveals a decline in the forest cover, with detrimental effects on the regional hydrologic regime and the environment. There has been an increase in the built-up area from 0.53 (in 1973) to 3.63 (in 2021), with the development of infrastructure and industrialization in city centres like Hassan, Arsikere, and Holenarsipura. The main urban development has been noticed in the northern and southern parts of Hassan city due to the establishment of industrial areas and special economic zones (SEZ). A web-based spatial decision support system (SDSS) has been developed to visualize an ESR and also bio-geo-climatic and social variables, which aids in the location-specific conservation planning with effective and transparent governance, with an option to communicate decisions to policymakers and stakeholders. Prioritization of ecologically sensitive regions at disaggregated levels (grids) reveals that ESR1 and ESR2 cover 57 grids representing highly sensitive regions in the district. ESR3 comprises 16 grids representing slightly moderate sensitivity, and 16 grids in ESR4 represent the least concern regions. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Sreevalsa Kolathayar, N Vinod Chandra Menon and Sreekeshava K S. All rights reserved.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Civil Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Communities with Net Zero Targets |
| Publisher: | CRC Press |
| Additional Information: | The copyright for this article belongs to Authors. |
| Department/Centre: | Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Oct 2024 07:25 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Oct 2024 07:25 |
| URI: | http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/86490 |
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