Geospatial approach to identify the indicators of Wetland change: A study for Kabartal (Ramsar Wetland), India

Abstract

This study assesses the trend of LULC change in Wetlands from 1989 to 2023 using LANDSAT data for the core wetland zone of 26.02 km2 and the extended buffer zone of 623.08 km2. A physicochemical analysis of soil and water quality was conducted, and geospatial tools such as NDVI, MNDWI, and LULC were used in the study. ICP-OES study shows high levels of Ca, Mg, K, Fe and Cu in soil. Water quality analysis reveals that all parameters are within the permissible limit. Pearson correlation analysis shows a significant positive correlation between precipitation and vegetation cover in the buffer zone and with the water in wetland in the core zone. Nitrate and phosphate have a strong positive correlation with each other in both seasons, implying the same source, which could be due to agricultural runoff. Higher electrical conductivity indicates the presence of mineral ions and is strongly correlated with pH, temperature alkalinity and TDS. NDVI, MNDWI and LULC studies show decreased vegetation and water areas in core and buffer zones. The driving forces of wetland degradation are agriculture and built-up in core and buffer zones. The results of the kappa coefficient show an accuracy of 88 %. Conservation strategies should be developed based on the indicators of the driving forces of degradation.

Keywords

• Kabartal
• Wetland
• Ramsar
• NDVI
• MNDWI
• LULC