biodiversity, but also affects the socioeconomic condition of the indigenous people
of the state.
The possible causes of climate change in India with satellite measurements were
done by Ganguly (2011) and reported population growth accompanied by uncontrolled urbanization and rapid industrialization as the main causes of high levels of
pollution and imbalances in the regional climate. Recent research shows that climate change will be even more pronounced in high-elevation mountain ranges,
which are warming faster than adjacent lowlands. Hydrological and ecological
changes of this magnitude would result in a loss of unique biodiversity, as well as a
loss of many of the environmental goods and services provided by these mountains,
especially water supply, basin regulation, and associated hydropower potential (The
World Bank 2008). Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment (IMAGE)
is a helpful tool for investigating climate change, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, accelerated nitrogen cycle, and their causes and inter-linkages in a comprehensive framework (Kram and Stehfest 2011). With respect to the altitudinal
spectrum, climate change is affecting mountain ecosystems and biodiversity.
Glacial retreat in the eastern Himalayas is occurring at an alarming rate, which are
likely to result in substantial impacts on water flows to Northeastern (Assam)
valleys. At lower mountain altitudes, changes observed include loss of water regulation, increased likelihood of flash fires, and changes in ecosystem composition
and resilience. Moreover, as temperatures increase, there is a substantive risk of
recurring glacial overflows caused by ice melting, placing large downstream populations and infrastructure at imminent risk. Warming is also affecting the moorlands, high-altitude ecosystems with unique and abundantly diverse flora and fauna
that are also a storage area for water and carbon in the soil (The World Bank 2008).
3 Application of Geoinformatics in Biodiversity
and Climate Change Research
The rate of species extinction will overtake the rate of biodiversity inventorization
and characterization (Chapin et al. 2000). Maximum inaccessible areas of the
natural habitats have been yet to be inventorized as most of the biodiversity documentations in our country are concentrated in the areas accessible to the
researchers which led to a gap in the biodiversity exploration. Traditional identification and monitoring of biodiversity has many lacunae, some of them serious
enough to question the authenticity of the results (Roy et al. 2012). Field sampling
provides detailed information but it is quite expensive and time-consuming process.
Strategic ground sampling, expert knowledge, and interpretation of remote sensing
data can form a reliable, repeatable, and cost-effective analytical framework for
accurately assessing the rate of biodiversity change. Remote sensing is well recognized for the integral role it plays in assessment and monitoring of biodiversity
and climate-related indicators. Although field surveys provide higher levels of
Biodiversity Status and Climate Change Scenario in Northeast India
111
of the state.
The possible causes of climate change in India with satellite measurements were
done by Ganguly (2011) and reported population growth accompanied by uncontrolled urbanization and rapid industrialization as the main causes of high levels of
pollution and imbalances in the regional climate. Recent research shows that climate change will be even more pronounced in high-elevation mountain ranges,
which are warming faster than adjacent lowlands. Hydrological and ecological
changes of this magnitude would result in a loss of unique biodiversity, as well as a
loss of many of the environmental goods and services provided by these mountains,
especially water supply, basin regulation, and associated hydropower potential (The
World Bank 2008). Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment (IMAGE)
is a helpful tool for investigating climate change, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, accelerated nitrogen cycle, and their causes and inter-linkages in a comprehensive framework (Kram and Stehfest 2011). With respect to the altitudinal
spectrum, climate change is affecting mountain ecosystems and biodiversity.
Glacial retreat in the eastern Himalayas is occurring at an alarming rate, which are
likely to result in substantial impacts on water flows to Northeastern (Assam)
valleys. At lower mountain altitudes, changes observed include loss of water regulation, increased likelihood of flash fires, and changes in ecosystem composition
and resilience. Moreover, as temperatures increase, there is a substantive risk of
recurring glacial overflows caused by ice melting, placing large downstream populations and infrastructure at imminent risk. Warming is also affecting the moorlands, high-altitude ecosystems with unique and abundantly diverse flora and fauna
that are also a storage area for water and carbon in the soil (The World Bank 2008).
3 Application of Geoinformatics in Biodiversity
and Climate Change Research
The rate of species extinction will overtake the rate of biodiversity inventorization
and characterization (Chapin et al. 2000). Maximum inaccessible areas of the
natural habitats have been yet to be inventorized as most of the biodiversity documentations in our country are concentrated in the areas accessible to the
researchers which led to a gap in the biodiversity exploration. Traditional identification and monitoring of biodiversity has many lacunae, some of them serious
enough to question the authenticity of the results (Roy et al. 2012). Field sampling
provides detailed information but it is quite expensive and time-consuming process.
Strategic ground sampling, expert knowledge, and interpretation of remote sensing
data can form a reliable, repeatable, and cost-effective analytical framework for
accurately assessing the rate of biodiversity change. Remote sensing is well recognized for the integral role it plays in assessment and monitoring of biodiversity
and climate-related indicators. Although field surveys provide higher levels of
Biodiversity Status and Climate Change Scenario in Northeast India
111