This document analyzes land use and land cover change in an inland saline wetland in India between 1963-2019 using remote sensing data and field studies. Some key findings include: - The wetland area decreased from 30% of the total lake area in 1972 to 3.2% in 2019, losing over 4% per decade on average. - Saline soil areas are being converted to barren land. Soil and water analyses show a loss of salinity over time. - Migratory bird numbers and species are declining as the wetland loses its saline character. - The wetland is desiccating rapidly due to illegal salt pan encroachment, groundwater extraction, dams on rivers

2. Introduction

4. Inland wetlands
• Any lake that is away from the coast or coastal boundaries is called as
inland lake.

5. Fresh water vs saline water wetlands

6. Coastal wetlands vs inland saline water
wetlands

7. Benefits of inland saline wetlands

8. Threats these lakes are experiencing

10. Study area
• It is located at the confluence of 3
district.
• It was designated as a Ramsar site
on 23 March 1990, under criteria A
with site No. 464.
• The geographical coordinates are
26⁰ 52′ to 27⁰ 02′ N; 74⁰ 54′ – 75⁰
14′ It is 230 km2 (22.5 km in length
and 3-1 km in width).
• Ephemeral streams (Mendha,
Rupnagar, Khandel, Kharian) form
the catchment of 5,520 km2.

11. Materials
Data used
1. Aerial photograph: CORONA
2. Satellite data: Landsat (MSS,
TM, OLI)
3. Bird census data
4. Soil sampling data
5. Water sampling data
Software used
1. Arc GIS
2. ERDAS Imagine
3. ENVI
4. TerrSet Land Change Modeller
Study time frame (96 years at
decadal scale)
1. Past years: 1963, 1972, 1981,
1992, 2009
2. Present: 2019
3. Future: 2029, 2039, 2049,
2059
Study area classification
1. Land Cover: Wetland,
Vegetation, Barren land,
Saline soil, Salt crust,
Aravali hills
2. Land Use: Salt pans,
settlement

12. Methodology

13. Field photographs

15. Results:
Past Land Use
Land Cover
maps
1963 1972
1981 1992
2009 2019

16. Results

17. Rate of change of each Land Use Land
Cover Classes
LULC classes 1972-81 1981-92 1992-09 2009-19
Wetland -4.23% 0.73% -4.14% -4.47%
Salt pan -0.63% 1.68% 2.93% 1.36%
Salt crust 0.00% 0.08% -5.88% 0.00%
Vegetation 43.38% -8.54% 88.20% -5.95%
Aravali hills -0.56% 0.06% -0.11% -0.11%
Saline soil -2.62% 7.71% 1.78% -0.48%
Barren land -1.24% 1.11% -0.45% 1.86%

18. Results:
Future
projected
maps
2029 2039
2049 2059

19. Results: Bird, Soil and Water
Birds Parameters 2019 2020
Total count 1124 43,445
Total species no. 29 32
Soil and water analysis
Soil parameters: pH, EC, Salinity, Carbonate,
Organic carbon
Water parameters: pH, EC, Salinity, Hardness,
Carbonate
When the laboratory obtained soil and water
parameters were analyzed and compared to literature,

21. Discussion
1. Wetland area occupied 30% of the whole lake in
1972.
2. It reduced to 3.2% in 2019 at almost constant rate
of 4.23%.
3. Saline soil area of lake is getting converted to
barren land.
4. Soil-water analysis indicate loss of saline
character when combined with the literature result.
5. Subsequently there is decreasing trend of
migratory birds visiting to the lake.
6. As a result of which livelihood of local people is
also at stake.

22. Discussion: Major desiccating saline lakes

23. Restoration suggestions
1. Complete check on illegal salt-pan encroachment.
2. Restriction on illegal ground water extraction.
3. Removal of numerous small check-dams built over the
rivers.
4. Shifting the dump yard of urban wastes to the lake.
5. Giving other alternative employment options like
eco-tourism and nature guides to local people.
6. Involvement of local people in decision making
systems of the lake.

24. Restoration Benefits

25. Conclusion
• India’s largest inland saline wetland is
desiccating very fast.
• It is adversely hindering both ecology and economy
at local, national and global scale.
• If some of the illegal activities are checked, the
lake will easily restore with very less capital
investments.
• Subsequently other alternative livelihood options
can be generated under “wise use” concept of
Ramsar Convention.