Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Appraisal of Wetland Values and Ecological Threats Uing Geoinformatics and Machine Learning Techniques: A Case for Restoration and Management of Deepor Beel, Assam |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Tamal Kanti Saha, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2024 |
Contact info : | tamalkantisaha999@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | Deepor Beel (covering 40 km2) has been recognized as one of the largest wetlands in the Brahmaputra valley. It was declared a Ramsar site in August 2002. The wetland is rich in floral and faunal diversity and has both biological and environmental importance. During the monsoon, it helps control floodwaters that emerge from the city and the Brahmaputra River. Communities residing in villages around Beel are dependent on fishing and vegetable farming for their livelihoods. The development of several suburbs and industrial complexes near the wetland has affected its ecological functions. Beel has also been bearing the adverse impact of municipal solid waste. The proposed construction project through the wetland will pose a grave threat to its existence. The lake area has been reducing while the amount of liquid waste has increased over the years and affected the health of the wetland. The quality of water of the wetland has also deteriorated as a result of anthropogenic activities such as indiscriminate fishing and cultivation.
Though a large body of research touched upon the assessment of species diversity, heavy metal pollution, and water quality deterioration in the wetland, no attempt was made for devising strategies for restoration and management. Hence this study is an embryonic effort to assess wetland values and ecological threats and suggest suitable strategies for the restoration of Deepor Beel Assam. The proposal aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) to monitor the spatio-temporal dynamics of the Deepor Beel, 2) to evaluate the wetland's value for the environment and society, 3) to examine the wetland's health, and 4) to propose a restoration and management plan. The study will be based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data will be collected through field survey (water samples, soil samples), interviews of the communities dependent on the wetland for their livelihood, and residential survey data. The water and soil samples will be analyzed in the laboratory or Physico-chemical properties. Satellite data during pre and post-monsoon seasons will be downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) (month-wise). The data on climate will be obtained from Indian Meteorological Department. Remote sensing data-derived spectral indices such as modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) and water ratio index (WRI) will be utilized to delineate the water body. The heavy metal contamination index will be applied to analyze variation in water quality and heavy metal concentrations. Advanced machine learning techniques (ANN-MLP, RF and SVM) will be utilized to analyze the conversion of wetland to other land uses. The study will be useful for the decision-makers for initiating suitable steps toward maintaining the wetland landscape and environment. The study will provide a large database of wetlands which could help future researchers and policymakers in developing wetland conservation and restoration plans. |
Organizations involved