Abstract
Green Infrastructure is a network of strategically planned natural and semi-natural areas that provide a wide array of ecosystem services. As the world is changing at a fast pace, interconnected green spaces are more likely to survive and contribute to the wellbeing of human settlements rather than isolated ones. The spatial aspect of this network is largely dependent on the ecosystem service that is prioritized for the region. For tropical belts that combine high population density, rainfall, and landscape change due to rapid urbanization, flood control through runoff management is of paramount importance. We are exploring the case of Kerala, the southwestern state of India here. The region is witnessing rapid conversion of green and blue areas into built-up areas. Large-scale Land-use/ Land-cover (LULC) changes are taking place in the state. This unplanned urbanization is causing tremendous pressure on existing green infrastructure. Systematic GIS-based studies on hydrological response to LULC changes are imperative in the current scenario where flood control is of foremost importance, for arriving at a systematic green infrastructure plan that addresses runoff management. It is anticipated that this GIS-based framework for systematically delineating green infrastructure will have applications in urban and regional planning and nature conservation fields.
Author Information
Anjana Bhagyanathan, National Institute of Technology Calicut, India
Anju John, National Institute of Technology Calicut, India
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