Land use/land cover changes through satellite remote sensing approach: A case study of Indus delta, Pakistan

Abstract

The Indus deltas with its coastal zones are the most important coastal environment for mangrove and related habitats in Pakistan. The aim of the study is to identify the land use/land cover (LULC) classes of the Indus Delta during 2000 and 2014 through satellite remote sensing (SRS), to evaluate the LULC changes of Indus Delta during this period and to investigate the LULC classes from ground truths. Satellite remote sensing is a modern technique for detection and mapping of LULC patterns and their changes without going into survey. Satellite images of Landsat-7 ETM+, March 8, 2000 and Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS, April 8, 2014 were used. A supervised classification technique was used to classify ten LULC classes. Results indicate that normal mangrove, cultivated land, dry mudflat, dry barren / vacant land and turbid water increased with 324.93 km 2 (23.21 km 2 /year), 749.44 km 2 (53.53km 2 /year), 171.01 km 2 (12.21 km 2 /year), 375.31 km 2 (26.81 km 2 /year) and 59 km 2 (4.21 km 2 /year), respectively, during the period of 2000-2014 due to plantation of mangroves in various creek areas in Indus Delta by Sindh Forest and Wildlife Department, SCCP, IUCN, WWF, etc. in the year of 2009 to 2013. Cultivated land is increased after the flood of 2010 and 2013 in the northern part of Indus Delta, while dense mangrove, other vegetation, wet mudflat, wet barren/ vacant land and deep water decreased with 12.99 km 2 (0.93 km 2 /year), 280.58 km 2 (20.04 km 2 /year), 290.54 km 2 (20.75 km 2 /year), 844.59 km 2 (60.33 km 2 /year) and 237.16 km 2 (16.94 km 2 /year), respectively, during 2000-2014. Some areas of other vegetation lands are converted to cultivated lands during 2000 to 2014. Similarly, some wet mudflat and wet barren / vacant land are converted to normal mangrove in the southern part of Indus Delta. Many factors affect the LULC of Indus Delta like sea water intrusion, insufficient freshwater below Kotri barrage, and at least one annual cyclone destructive to Sindh coast.