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Insights into riverscape dynamics with the hydrological, ecological and social dimensions for water sustenance
T.V. Ramachandra1,2,3,*, S. Vinay1,4, S.Bharath1, M.D. Subhash Chandran1 and Bharath H.Aithal1,4
http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/
1Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences [CES],
3Centre for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning [CiSTUP], Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560012, India.
*Corresponding author:
tvr@iisc.ac.in, emram.ces@courses.iisc.ac.in

Abstract

Spatio-temporal patterns of four neighboring riverscapes in the central Western Ghats through land use analyses using temporal remote sensing data (1973, 2018), reveal a decline of evergreen forests (41%) and fragmentation of intact or contiguous forests (60%). Hydro-ecological footprint illustrates that the catchment integrity plays a decisive role in sustaining water for the societal and ecological needs, evident from the occurrence of perennial streams in the catchment dominated by native flora with the forest cover >60%, highlighting the riverscape dynamics with the hydrological, ecological, social and environmental dimensions linkages and water sustainability. This helps in evolving strategies to adopt integrated watershed management to sustain the anthropogenic and environmental water demand.

Key Words: Lotic ecosystems, Central Western Ghats, Land use, Eco-Hydrological Footprint, Biodiversity, Water quality.

Citation :Ramachandra T. V., Vinay S., Bharath S., Subash Chandran M. D. and Bharath H. Aithal, 2020. Insights into riverscape dynamics with the hydrological, ecological and social dimensions for water sustenance, Current Science, Vol. 118(9): 1379-1393
* Corresponding Author :
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012, India.
Tel : +91-80-2293 3099/2293 3503-extn 107,      Fax : 91-80-23601428 / 23600085 / 23600683 [CES-TVR]
E-mail :tvr@iisc.ac.in emram.ces@courses.iisc.ac.in,     Web : http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/grass
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