Evaluating the effects of natural disasters, human influence, and government development policies on the landscape dynamics of Little Andaman, India

Abstract

The Little Andaman Island face exploitation masked as development through the implementation of policies and schemes, which ultimately deplete and degrade its natural resources. Additionally, the island is also susceptible to frequent natural disasters and the adverse effects of climate change, compounding environmental challenges. The main aim of this study was to assess the dynamic changes in the landscape of Little Andaman during the years 1976, 1989, 2010, 2014, and 2022 using satellite data. Thematic maps of the area were generated using visual interpretation techniques. The study revealed that the dominant land cover in Little Andaman was forests, which gradually decreased from 622.79 km² in 1976 to 579.6 km² in 2022, resulting in an overall loss of 43.1 km² over 47 years. On the other hand, settlements, including built-up areas and agriculture, nearly doubled in size from 18.9 km² in 1976 to 36.60 km² in 2022. Mangroves, in contrast, exhibited stable coverage, with an area of approximately 31 km² in 1976, showing minor fluctuations until 2022. Plantations experienced an increase from 19.37 km² in 1989 to 22.28 km² in 2022. Water bodies also expanded gradually, reaching 10.4 km² in 2010 and maintaining a consistent size until 2022. In the meantime, degraded forests and degraded mangroves showed minimal changes over the years. The study identified a range of factors contributing to these changes, with a particular focus on tsunamis, climate change, and government policies and schemes.