Scholarlink

<p>Ramsar sites are wetlands of global significance, providing vital habitats for unique flora and fauna, while offering essential ecosystem services. Although India hosts the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia, studies on the effects of anthropogenic threats, including climate change, on the ecological health of these critically important ecosystems are limited. The study assessed Ramsar sites of India using ecological productivity indices (<i>n</i> = 42) and land use land cover (LULC) patterns (<i>n</i> = 84) based on Landsat satellite data covering a period of 40&#xa0;years (1984–2024). Shoreline development index (SDI), chlorophyll-a, turbidity, Forel-Ule Index&#xa0;(FUI)-based water color and water surface temperature (WST) were used as composite proxies of wetland health. Long-term trend analysis revealed increases in WST, SDI, chlorophyll-a and FUI with overall productivity trending towards higher levels of eutrophication (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). LULC changes reflect major shifts in landscape usage, with significant increases in settlement areas and declines in grasslands, forestlands, croplands, and wetlands. Increased settlements (144.8%) and decreased grassland areas (22.9%) indicate high urbanization and habitat loss in the proximity of the wetlands. Approximately 66% of the Ramsar sites were exposed to very high direct anthropogenic threats (50–100%). This study suggests that the Ramsar sites in India are experiencing an overall reduction in wetland area, declining ecological health, and deteriorating LULC changes, thereby raising concerns over their long-term health and stability. This requires urgent rethinking of conservation and/or ecosystem restoration strategies for threat mitigation aimed at the wetlands of special importance.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Multidecadal satellite imagery reveals significant impacts of anthropogenic threats on Ramsar sites of India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月21日

查看全文
  • Krishna Patil,
  • Ravindra Pawar,
  • Ashwin Gujrati

摘要

Ramsar sites are wetlands of global significance, providing vital habitats for unique flora and fauna, while offering essential ecosystem services. Although India hosts the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia, studies on the effects of anthropogenic threats, including climate change, on the ecological health of these critically important ecosystems are limited. The study assessed Ramsar sites of India using ecological productivity indices (n = 42) and land use land cover (LULC) patterns (n = 84) based on Landsat satellite data covering a period of 40 years (1984–2024). Shoreline development index (SDI), chlorophyll-a, turbidity, Forel-Ule Index (FUI)-based water color and water surface temperature (WST) were used as composite proxies of wetland health. Long-term trend analysis revealed increases in WST, SDI, chlorophyll-a and FUI with overall productivity trending towards higher levels of eutrophication (p < 0.05). LULC changes reflect major shifts in landscape usage, with significant increases in settlement areas and declines in grasslands, forestlands, croplands, and wetlands. Increased settlements (144.8%) and decreased grassland areas (22.9%) indicate high urbanization and habitat loss in the proximity of the wetlands. Approximately 66% of the Ramsar sites were exposed to very high direct anthropogenic threats (50–100%). This study suggests that the Ramsar sites in India are experiencing an overall reduction in wetland area, declining ecological health, and deteriorating LULC changes, thereby raising concerns over their long-term health and stability. This requires urgent rethinking of conservation and/or ecosystem restoration strategies for threat mitigation aimed at the wetlands of special importance.