Integrating NDWI, MNDWI, and Erosion Modeling to Analyze Wetland Changes and Impacts of Land Use Activities in Ropar Wetland, India

The Ropar Wetland is a significant freshwater ecosystem located in Punjab, India. In the recent years, this wetland has witnessed significant changes owing to anthropogenic and natural factors. In this study, the land use and land cover changes are analyzed around the Ropar Wetland using remote sensing techniques by utilizing Landsat images and GIS software. The results showed a significant increase in agricultural land from 19% in 2000 to 37% in 2010, followed by a decrease to 28% in 2020. Barren, urban, and fallow land also showed a continuous increase from 20% in 2000 to 44% in 2020. The forest cover decreased from 47% in 2000 to 17% in 2020 and water bodies decreased slightly from 14% in 2000 to 10% in both 2010 and 2020. The pictorial representation of LULC (Land Use Land Change) changes over the years, including the area of the Ropar Wetland, provided insight into the shifting patterns of land use and cover. Results from NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) show a small decrease in water body area in the wetland over the years, with some fluctuations in the total area. MNDWI (Modified Normalized Difference Water Index) shows the sparse water area around the wetland. Natural processes including erosion and accretion have affected the wetland region around the river, causing a net loss of 55 hectares of land, over the past two decades. The findings of this study suggest that there is a need to implement effective management practices that recognize the complex interrelationships between land use, hydrology, and ecological processes to protect the Ropar Wetland's ecological and hydrological functions. Ongoing monitoring and assessing land use and cover changes are crucial for conserving wetland ecosystems.