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Biodiversity threat through exotic species monitoring and management using Remotely Sensed data and GIS techniques - A case study of Banni (Kachchh) Gujarat, India
Study Area
The Banni area, as the name signifies, is a 'Banni hui' (in Hindi) meaning made up land formed by the detritus brought down and deposited predominantly by the Indus river, which was reported to flow through the Great Rann in the past. The great and the little ranns of Kachchh were the old arms of the sea in the old geological period. Due to the eruption and formation of the Allah Bund near the Kori Creek, the lands in the Great and Little ranns got blocked up and were filled up by the deposits brought down by the Indus river (Source: Notes from Animal Husbandry of Agriculture, Gujarat). Once upon a time Banni was considered the largest grassland of its kind in Asia, but has fallen upon sad times in the last decade. The Banni area under the present investigation extends over Bhuj and Nakhtrana Talukas of Kachchh Districts. It is situated on the northern border of Kachchh mainland, consisting of 45 villages. The actual area lies between North latitudes of 23o19' and 23o52' N and East longitudes of 68o56' to 70o32' E. Vegetation comprises of grassland, shrubs and legumes found naturally in the Banni area. Normally the area is covered with coarse and low perennial grasses and other non-grass species present in Banni area are as follows (Source : Banni Development Office, Bhuj, Kachchh).
- Dichanthium-annulatum, (Forsk) Stapf
- Sporobolus helvolus (Trin) Thw.
- Chloris barbate, SW.
- Cenchrus biflorus, Roxb.
- Eleusine bianata
- Elysecarpus rugosus (legume), Wall
- Heylandis latebrosa (legume), DC
- Digitarea sanguinalis, Scop. Var Ciliaris
Prain
- Crotolaria medicaginea, Lam.
- Indigofera sps. (Legume), Linn.
- Sida sps. (Malvaceaa) L.
- Malanocenchrus jacquemontii, J&S
- Sporobolus diander (Retz) P. Beauv
- Cenchrus setigerus, vahl
- Aristida adscensionis, L
- Aristida funiculata, Trin & Rupr
- Setaria rhachitricho, Cook
- Eragrostis minor and major, Host.
- Eragrostis trimula, Hochst.
- Cyprus rotundus, Linn(dupareate form)
- Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf
- Cyperus rotundus, Linn
- Cressa cretica (Convovulaceae), Linn
- Eragrostis bulbosa
- Kochia sps. (Polygonaceae), Roth
- Suaeda fruticosa
Out of the above 26 grass species first 12 species are palatable and rest of them are salt-tolerant grasses.
Banni area deterioration is linked to the increasing salinity ingress, impoverishment and illiteracy of its inhabitants, a growing human and livestock population, and invasion of prosopis juliflora, which offers quick fuelwood, but its proliferation is dangerous for the grassland, over grazing and improper management of the land.
Data used
The following data was used during the course of this study
- IRS 1C/1D LISS-III data( transparencies )
of two seasons at 1:50,000
- Banni area map prepared by Banni
Development Authority and WRD/CDO joint report.
- Ground truth data collection.
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