RESEARCH 

(Source: Google Earth)

RESEARCH TOPIC

A Systems Approach for operationalizing ‘Ecosystem Services Concept’ in the context of coastal wetlands


Ecosystem Services (ES) are the direct or indirect benefits obtained by the human population from ecosystem processes and interactions.  Coastal wetlands are one of the highly productive ecosystems which provide many critical ES ranging from local to global scale. The high ecological, social and economic values of the Coastal area makes it very important for human society. 

In India, the wetlands covering almost 4.7% of the total geographical area are subjected to intensive anthropogenic pressure. The geographical association of coastal wetlands with high population and economic assets makes it more vulnerable to unfavourable changes. Even though there are regulations to check this alarming condition, its practical integration in spatial planning and institutional aspects is limited; especially in the case of developing countries like India. In this scenario, where immediate interventions are required; the operationalization of an ES based approach is recommended as a tool for better integration of humans and nature. 


The proposed research entitled ‘A Systems Approach for operationalizing ‘Ecosystem Services Concept’ in the context of coastal wetlands' is formulated by understanding the need for sustainable development and management of the Coastal wetland regions. The research expects to provide a comprehensive model which could be utilized for undertaking more appropriate decisions for the ES management of coastal wetlands and the geographical area associated with them. The study also attempts to develop a predictive tool that could be used as a national policy framework for coastal wetland management. 

PUBLICATIONS

Research Article:

Analysis of the Economic Value and Status of the Ecosystem Services Provided by the Ashtamudi Wetland Region, a Ramsar Site in Kerala.                                                              -Nayana Merin Joy, Saikat Kumar Paul                                                 

Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing (November 2020)

Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12524-020-01263-9


Abstract: Wetlands provide critical services such as protection against flooding and wave action, water quality maintenance, habitat provision, food products, etc. Ashtamudi is the second-largest wetland ecosystem in Kerala state, and it provides numerous ecosystem services (ES). This study has analysed the economic value and current status of 11 important ES provided by this wetland. The considered services are fish production, clam production, shrimp/prawn larvae production, inland navigation, coir production, carbon sequestration and erosion prevention provided by mangroves, flood protection, cooling effect, tourism and future use-value. The total economic value of the wetland by considering the aforementioned services is 424 million US$ (in terms of 2017 International $ value), and every hundred square metres of the wetland provides an economic output of 820 US$ per year approximately. Even though the valuation of a few ES has been carried out in earlier studies, this particular study has incorporated more services in valuation and analysed the change in its value compared to previous years. This study also tried to analyse the status of ‘wetland features’ essential for the sustenance of ES, the spatial changes of the service providing habitats, and its impact on ES delivery. The study has been carried out in a GIS framework using inputs from various sources including remote sensing (RS) data. Landsat imageries and digital elevation model of the study area are used to understand the economic value and current status of certain services. Analysis, such as spatial change of service providing habitats, shoreline alterations, changes in NDVI of selected locations is carried out by utilizing the aforementioned RS data. Compared to the previous years, the value of supporting and regulating services is declining. At the same time, the value of certain provisioning and cultural services is improving. As the supporting and regulating services are the prerequisites for all other ES to sustain, the current trend indicates a collapse of the entire system shortly. While addressing this issue, more priority has to be given in restoring antecedent wetland conditions, which will indeed lead to the improvement of supporting and regulating ES. Community-based institutional mechanisms have to be developed to ensure consistent monitoring and maintenance of the wetland.

                                                


Economic value of ES—comparison with earlier years , The change in the ESV determining factors with respect to earlier years

NDVI  of Monroe island (1997 and 2017)

Conference Proceeding:

A study on the economic value of regulatory services of mangroves in  Ashtamudi Lake Region, Kerala 

-Nayana Merin Joy, Saikat Kumar Paul                                                 

National Symposium on Innovations in Geospatial Technology for Sustainable Development with special emphasis on NER, 2019                                                 

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hE9U2KY5yonWYFYEd3kGKBUz3CXiqW0X/view?usp=sharing


Abstract: The study estimates and analyzes the economic value of two regulatory ecosystem services; Carbon Sequestration and Erosion Prevention provided by the mangroves in Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala. The economic value of Carbon sequestration and erosion prevention service provided by the existing 25 Ha of Mangrove is 102 million rupees and 13.9 million rupees respectively. In past years a major portion of mangroves have been converted to coconut plantations and settlements. The study found that the economic value of these plantations are negligible when compared to that of mangroves and the conversion has led to considerable negative impacts in the region.