Mangroves' Susceptibility
to shifting Coastal Regulation Zones: An analysis of Goa's Chapora and Sal Estuaries
Deshpande Tanvi V. and Kerkar Pravina
Disaster Advances; Vol. 18(11); 10-21;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1811da010021; (2025)
Abstract
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.
