PG Thesis
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Item Risk assessment and habitat invasibility of Ageratine adenophora (Spreng) R.M. King & H.Rob in Pampadum Shola National park, Kerala(Department of Forest Resource Management, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2024-12-17) Nikhil, P V; Aneesh, K SItem Comparative assessment of the spatial distribution and edaphic attributes of mangroves in Perumba and Puthuvype regions(Department of Forest Resource Management, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2024-01-25) Rohan, M S.Mangroves are characterized by salt-tolerant vegetation thriving in tropical and subtropical coastlines. It provides critical ecological services and a source of livelihood for coastal communities. Globally, these crucial ecosystems are currently under threat due to the over-exploitation of natural resources. The mangroves in the state of Kerala have witnessed a drastic reduction in the area from seven hundred sq. km to a mere nine sq. km over the last five decades. Developmental activities and anthropogenic disturbances in the coastal areas are the major threats to these sensitive ecosystems. The knowledge of the extent of disturbance, the changes brought by the anthropogenic activities and their effect on the mangrove vegetation are the prerequisites for the sustainable management of these ecosystems. In this context, the present research work studied the extent of change in mangrove areas, variation in vegetation structures, soil and water properties among two contrasting regions namely, the Perumba river region with low and the Puthuvype region with high human disturbances. The Land Use Land Cover (LULC) classification for the current year has shown almost same percentage of mangroves to the total area in both the studied regions. In the present study, we used the three most widely used machine learning algorithms for the classification process. Among the machine learning algorithms studied, the Gradient Tree Boost (GTB) algorithm with a combination of Sentinel 1, 2 datasets and few spectral indices shown exemplary performance (88 % accuracy) in classifying mangrove areas. Change detection analysis showed a positive trend in mangrove cover in Perumba region (7.03 % increase) and contrarily a negative trend (66.51 % decrease) in the Puthuvype region during the study period (2013 - 2023). Phytosociological analysis figured out seven species belonging to four families in both Perumba and Puthuvype regions. The only difference in the species composition between the two regions is that Kandelia candel was found only in Perumba region, while it was replaced by Bruguiera gymnorhiza in the Puthuvype region. The common species present among these two regions were Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera cylindrical, Excocaria agallocha, Rhizophora apiculate and Rhizophora mucronata. The Perumba region exhibits higher vegetation diversity indices when compared to the Puthuvype region. Perumba region exhibited higher seedling, tree, and sapling density, indicating a healthier mangrove ecosystem. In both regions, the majority of trees belong to the girth xii class of 20-30 cm. Further, Important Value Index (IVI) identified Avicennia officinalis as a dominant species followed by Rhizhophora mucronata in both the regions. Soil analysis showed a significant variation for chemical properties between the regions studied. Electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available potassium, sodium, magnesium, lead, and chromium levels were recorded higher values in the Perumba region. Meanwhile, available phosphorus content was found higher in the Puthuvype region. In addition, biological properties viz, actinomycetes, bacteria, and fungi populations were higher in the Perumba region. Moreover, water analyses also revealed a maximum electrical conductivity, salinity and turbidity in the Perumba region. Altogether, the study showed a declining mangrove population in the Puthuvype region due to significant changes in the mangrove ecosystem brought by the intense anthropogenic interventions in the mangrove ecosystem, necessitating immediate action for the restoration of this fragile ecosystem.Item Ecotourism carrying capacity of Nelliampathy, Palakkad, Kerala(Department of Forest Resource Management, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2024-02-26) Rathna, V.; Gopakumar, SEcotourism is globally embraced as a niche segment of sustainable tourism, transforming conventional mass tourism and increasingly being recognized as a strategy for sustainable forest management in natural areas. However, to address the potential threats arising from an excessive influx of visitors and inadequate regulations in these areas, it is imperative that effective ecotourism planning and management must establish and uphold optimal thresholds, commonly denoted as the “carrying capacity of destinations”. Despite its importance in managing visitor numbers, many key ecotourism destinations currently do not adhere to this concept. This study focused on assessing the ecotourism carrying capacity (ETCC) for one of the major hill-based ecotourism attractions in Kerala, ‘Nelliampathy’, which faces immense pressure from tourists, by taking into account various site-specific physical, biological or ecological and social factors. Tourist's perceptions were also obtained through a survey conducted with 91 respondents with a pre-tested questionnaire, scheduled every fortnight from June to September. Furthermore, a brief study on the valuation of the use (recreational) and non-use values of Nelliampathy was carried out. The study established Effective Carrying Capacity (ECC) estimates for various destinations: Government Orange Farm, Kesavanpara, Seetharkundu, Pakuthippalam KFDC, Minnampara and Karappara Bridge at 587, 302, 153, 110, 40 (approximately 5 trips per day) and 8 visitors per day, respectively. The occupancy rate of destinations revealed that Karappara far exceeded the carrying capacity, followed by Minnampara and Seetharkundu. While the current visitation rates are actually below these estimates for some destinations like Kesavanpara and Govt. Orange Farm, there is a risk of congestion and overcrowding, particularly during peak seasons and holidays. ETCC assessment underscores the importance of improving the management capacity in terms of personnel, infrastructure and equipment and judicious monitoring of limiting factors that could reasonably increase the carrying capacity of these sites. Extended projection periods, especially for KFDC and Govt. Orange Farm could be strategically utilized to alleviate tourist pressure. The tourist profile indicated a significant majority from Kerala (92.31%), mainly comprising students (25.27%) and middle-aged individuals (46.15%) with a literate background (41.76%), favouring exclusive weekend day trips to Nelliampathy (79%). Overall, tourists held a positive perception about natural attractions and environmental characteristics of Nelliampathy, though a neutral stance was observed regarding travel-related concerns and other tourist assistance services. Despite its aesthetic beauty, Nelliampathy received negative feedback due to limited accessibility to emergency services. Tourists typically used personal cars (47%) and often engaged in group tourism with friends and family. Substitute destinations suggested include Munnar, Wayanad, Parambikulam Reserve and Silent Valley Park. The anticipated increase in tourist flows in Nelliampathy necessitates a re-evaluation of destination ticketing systems. Visitor willingness to pay (WTP) reflected environmental awareness, providing an opportunity for engaging tourists in destination improvement initiatives. This comprehensive understanding aids in shaping the future ecotourism management plan for Nelliampathy and the study offers a potential model for assessing carrying capacity at other ecotourism sites in the state