Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Hunger Free Area Programme and Coastal Wetlands Studies
2.0 GIS Projects at M.S. Swamina than Research Foundation
2.1 Socio-Economics Studies
initially, the GIS has been used for analyzing to socio-economic properties like population, literacy, female literacy, sex ration, employment, poor populatin mortality index etc. under the Hunger Free Areaa Programme. GIS analysis was carried out for one Panchayat Union Block ( Pennagaram block ) of Dharmpuri district in Tamil Nadu. The Pennagaram block with village boundaries was digitized using Arc info GIS and the above parameters has been put in ot the corresponding dat base which is attached with village map. them maps were prepared for individual factors with levels a per the specification. all the maps were overlaid to find out the condition of each village with respect to the parameters taken for the analysis( figure 1).
Fig 1. Pennagaram Blick -Dharmapuri Dt.
2.2 Coastal Wetlands Management
In India, there is a severe pressure for the co9nversion of mangroves to agriculture, industries, aquaculture and upstream river water diversion for irrigation or other purpose. ministry of Environment and forest (MoEF, 1987) has given the area of mangroves in India s 6740 sq, km and updated the ara of mangroves as 4,256 in 1994 ( MoEF, 1994) and the recent estimate by Space Applications Center ( based on remoter sensing mapping ) the area of mangroves as 3960 sq.km Remote Sensing of change -detection is a process of determining and evaluating differences in a variety of surface phenomenon over time. for detection of land cover change, multitemporal satellite data found to be more suitable ( Krishnamoorthy, 1997). Presently the MSSRF implementing a project on Coastal Wetlands ; Mangrove Conservation and management funded by the India-Canada Environment Facility. The prime objective of this project is to enhance the national capacity of coastal communities, village institutions to restore\, conserve and sustainable mange the mangrove wetlands and the preparation of wetland database. the expected outcome of this national programme is the joint mangrove management plan for all the major mangrove sites along east coast containing tested approaches along with mangrove atlas containing all the relevant thematic maps, suitable sites for conservation and restoration. also the capacity built in local self government especially Forest Department to use the mangrove atlas and GIS tool for decision making purposes. various thematic maps have been prepared from IRS LISS-III sensor data. the validated maps and Survey of India (SOI) base maps are being digitized and entered in GIS for adding other spatial data like drainage, watershed, etc. along with no-spatial socio-economic data. To understand the shoreline changes and the specific impact on the mangrove wetlands, 1970-SOI topomaps and recent IRS data are being analysed using GIS. One of our initial output form PC Arc/Info GIS of Godavari mangrove area is shown in Figure 2. the above map has been prepared using IRS LISS-III imagery and the details on Reserve Forest boundary, village locations, etc. were overlaid. Other thematic maps like shoreline change, geomorphology, vegetation change map based on multidate satellite data, etc. being entered in the GIS for the creation of wetland database. In addition we are collecting and generating relevant field data like soil quality, watershed details, vegetation details, etc. from our field centers and also form various departments and all those details will be attached to relevant thematic maps for analysis. This major programme is expected to be completed after two to three years and in between we are planning to conduct suitable workshop com seminar based on the results/output derived form this project.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the India-Canada Environment Facility, New Delhi for their financial support and guidance. We are highly thankful to Prof. M.S.Swaminathan for his constant encouragement and guidance to publish our work. We are thankful to Mr. S.Sankaramuthy and Dr. V.Selvam for their help and support.
References
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Krishnamoorhty, R. 1997. " Managing mangroves in India". GIS Asia Pacific June/July Issue.pp.26-29.
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MoEF. 1987. " Wetlands of India -a status report". Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 150 pp.
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MoEF. 1994." Wetland s of India -a directory ". Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 150 pp.
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PAMAP Technologies Corporation User Manual,3rd Revised Edition ( November 1990).
