Assessment of community-based restoration of Pichavaram mangrove wetland using remote sensing data

The impact of restoration of the degraded areas of Pichavaram mangrove wetland was analysed by comparing TM digital data of 1986 (before restoration) and LISS III digital data of 2002 (after restoration). The analysis indicates that the area of the mangrove forest cover has increased by about 90%. A science-based, community-centred and process-oriented approach followed for the restoration of the Pichavaram mangrove wetland in collaboration with the Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu and participation of local mangrove user-communities is mainly responsible for success of the effort. This study indicates that remote sensing data can be used as a monitoring tool to assess the effectiveness of restoration and conservation programmes of the mangrove wetland, where direct and regular physical monitoring is difficult due to marshy nature of the soil and presence of numerous tidal creeks and canals.