Mangroves' Susceptibility to shifting Coastal Regulation Zones: An analysis of Goa's Chapora and Sal Estuaries

Goa is a coastal State located on the west coast of India, known for its pristine sandy beaches and environment. Ministry of Environment and Forest implemented Coastal Regulation Zone Notification in 1991 for monitoring the coastal zones for unplanned developmental activities. The regulation has been changed in recent years, thereby making the coastal and the riverine ecosystem more vulnerable to human interference. In the name of development, various hazardous, unplanned activities have taken place which are degrading the coastal and riverine environment, especially mangroves. Mangroves are halophytes that are usually found in the inter-tidal regions in tropical and sub-tropical regions. The vulnerability of mangroves to the changing regulations with respect to 1991 and the 2018 CRZ notifications has been studied considering the land use land cover changes within the regulated zones of Chapora and Sal estuaries in North and South Goa district respectively. Both the estuaries have sparse to dense fringing mangrove vegetation. In Chapora and Sal estuaries, fisheries and tourism related activities are prominent in nature. Hence, increase in human induced activities in the regulated zones can impose threat to the estuarine ecosystem. Spatial analysis techniques and software such as ArcGIS 10.3 and ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 have been used for analysis and results. The findings from the study can be effectively implemented in monitoring the regulated zones and protecting mangroves efficiently.