| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-2.2-0107 |
| Title of Abstract | Assessing Mangrove Resilience and Coastal Instability in Bhitarkanika, India: Insights from 20 Years of Satellite Monitoring |
| Authors | H. Shiva Kumar*, P.C. Mohanty, J. Nithya, R. S. Mahendra, Sudheer Joseph, T M Balakrishnan Nair |
| Organisation | INCOIS |
| Address | Gollagudem Sanagreddy, Telangana, India Pincode: 502001 E-mail: hs.kumar-p@incois.gov.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Mangroves deliver vital ecosystem services by sustaining coastal biodiversity, sequestering carbon, shielding shorelines from natural hazards, and filtering land-based pollutants. Bhitarkanika, India¿s second-largest mangrove ecosystem, is increasingly threatened by both natural and anthropogenic pressures. This study evaluates long-term mangrove health and shoreline dynamics using multi-temporal satellite data from 2005-2025. Landsat imagery was atmospherically corrected using Atmospheric Correction for OLI and TIRS (ACCOLITE), and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values were classified into degraded, stable, and healthy categories. Shoreline change was assessed using the End Point Rate (EPR) method in DSAS. Results indicate stress phases in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2016, while 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 showed relative stability. Peak healthy conditions occurred in 2006, 2007, 2020, and 2022. Mangrove expansion was observed along the outer Mahanandi estuaries and inner Kanikal Island, likely due to regeneration or localized restoration. Degradation was concentrated along the northeastern coast, seaward Kanikal Island, and eastern Mahanandi estuaries. Shoreline erosion strongly correlated with mangrove loss, whereas accretion supported new growth. By integrating NDVI and EPR metrics, this study highlights the link between ecological health and geomorphic change, offering a practical framework for long-term monitoring and evidence-based mangrove management. |
| Keywords | Mangrove Health, NDVI, ACOLITE, Landsat, Shoreline Change, Landsat |