Monitoring Changes in Vegetation Cover of Bhitarkanika Marine National Park Region, Odisha, India Using Vegetation Indices of Multidate Satellite Data

1916-1924The coast of Odisha extends from Balasore in the north to Ganjam in the south spreading 480 km. It exhibits a depositional terrain formed by the action of fluvio-marine, lacustrine, estuarine and aeolian agents. The river system coupled with marine action help in generating diversified physiographic and dynamic coastal features. Over the period, the coastal tract also witnesses the vagary of nature. Vast alluvial plain, meandering pattern of rivers, low lying swamps and swamp forests, sand dunes, beach ridges, beaches and swales are typical landforms associated with the coastal tract. The Bhitarkanika Marine National Park region, the study area is situated on the northern part of the coast which mostly exhibit swampy habitat due to large fine clastic deposits by riverine action. Mangroves on the swampy region occupy around 18,348 ha and regarded as the second largest mangrove formation in the subcontinent. Besides, the coastal tract also exhibits a congenial place for mass nesting of sea turtles coming from Pacific Ocean. The study area is now under stress due to various natural as well as anthropogenic pressure. The degradation of mangroves is mainly due to human encroachment and reclamation of land for aquaculture practices. It is observed that the occurrence of vegetation cover decreases continuously from 1973 to 2017. Dense vegetation cover is recorded as 35.23 % ( 1973) which decreased to 22.43 % ( 2017). On the southern end of the study area lies an all-weather port named Paradeep and on the northern side one emerging new port called Dhamra port. Their activities and impact as well as blooming aquaculture practices have bearing on the ecosystem of the mangroves. The assessment of vegetation vigor of the region portrays the condition of the environment shaped after years of degradation activities due to natural as well as anthropogenic activities induced from 595 villages having 50,6930 population. The objective of the study is to analyze the changes of vegetation vigor using NDVI from multi date satellite data and record the changes for better monitoring of the area. It may be inferred that the existing conservation measures and protection plans are inadequate to hold the coastal natural resources intact. The community participation and public awareness are not sufficient to abate the brittle coastal environment. Public participation, education programme, awareness initiatives are the foundation of success of any sustainable development in the sensitive coastal region