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A conceptual framework to analyse the land-use/land-cover changes and its impact on phytodiversity: a case study of North Andaman Islands, India

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Abstract

Phytodiversity is affected both by natural and anthropogenic factors and in Island ecosystems these impacts can devastate or reduce diversity, if the native vegetation is lost. In addition to rich species richness and diversity, Island systems are the sites of high endemism and any threat to these ecosystems will consequently lead to loss and extinction of species. To understand the dynamics including feedbacks of these changes in phytodiversity of North Andaman Islands, a conceptual framework is proposed which focuses on understanding the land-use and land-cover changes and its impact with phytodiversity. In considering land-use and land-cover changes this work highlights the direct and indirect drivers of changes—socio-economic, biophysical and climatic factors. Migration of population, their socio economic needs and government policies were identified as major driving forces threatening the phytodiversity of these Islands. Apart from human beings, natural disasters like tsunami and introduced herbivorous animals like elephants also contributed to forest destruction in these Islands. The integrated analysis based on such framework will provide insights for holistic resource management including ecological conservation.

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Abbreviations

GIS:

Geographical information system

LISS:

Linear imaging self scanner

SPOT:

Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre

MSS:

Multi spectral scanner

A&N:

Andaman and Nicobar

GPS:

Global positioning system

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Acknowledgements

Authors extend their thanks to Department of Science and Technology and Department of Space for funding the project “Biodiversity characterization of Andaman and Nicobar Islands at landscape level using Remote Sensing and GIS”, which is the basis for the study presented. Acknowledge colleagues of Forestry and Ecology division of National Remote Sensing Center, ISRO, Hyderabad and personnel of Andaman Forest Department for their help during the study. Also thankful to the Global Land cover facility (MSS data), Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP) of the National University of Singapore, Geoinformation PhD Programme of the Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy (SPOT data), for making availability of pre and post tsunami satellite data of the study area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lab for Spatial Informatics, International Institute of Information Technology, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, 500 032, India

    P. Rama Chandra Prasad & K. S. Rajan

  2. Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500 625, India

    C. B. S. Dutt

  3. Forestry and Ecology Division, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Kalidas Road, Dehradun, 248001, India

    P. S. Roy

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  1. P. Rama Chandra Prasad
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  2. K. S. Rajan
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Correspondence to P. Rama Chandra Prasad.

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Prasad, P.R.C., Rajan, K.S., Dutt, C.B.S. et al. A conceptual framework to analyse the land-use/land-cover changes and its impact on phytodiversity: a case study of North Andaman Islands, India. Biodivers Conserv 19, 3073–3087 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9880-3

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