576
better planning by local governments is needed to
help reduce the impacts of people on birds
(Milton and Dening 2008 ). The wetland managers need to be aware of the locations of the birds
in their respective habitats when they arrive there
for roosting, nesting, breeding, etc. They also
need to be aware of the impact of disturbance on
wetland birds’ energy budgets and take steps to
minimise disturbance to roosting wetland birds
(Milton and Dening 2008 ). It is important to note
here that internationally signifi cant number of
many species of migratory birds use the wetlands
for various purposes. In view of this, many wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites of
importance.
Notwithstanding the above, it is known that
wetlands play a vital role in maintaining the
overall cultural, economic and ecological health
of the ecosystem. But their fast pace of disappearance from the landscape is of great concern.
Therefore, the wetlands are to be conserved
after proper mapping. Mapping of wetlands
could, perhaps, better be done by means of
available data and by also fresh data generation
using modern spatial technologies. Thus, by
using digital remote sensing data for wetland
mapping and analysis, information at any scale
of all wetlands will be available according to the
management and conservation requirements.
Further, a wetland conservation strategy should
have an extensive basis of participatory processes.
A hierarchical watershed-based approach will
have a positive impact in not only reversing the
chronic cases of wetland resource depletion but
also helping design a network of wetland conservation preserves. These preserves would
strive to not only conserve precious aquatic biodiversity but also help serve as a refuge for
important economically useful wild plants and
animal genetic resources.
Today, the growth in GIS-based functionality
has increased the possibilities for using remotely
sensed imagery in GIS-based analyses. The analyses for this wetland study benefi ted immensely
from the use of the many raster data processing
functions now residing in full-capability GIS
systems, such as ArcInfo and ERDAS Imagine.
As a result, those working with remotely sensed
data are fi nding that GIS can actually help mapping
specialists build and evaluate thematic data sets
from remotely sensed data. In addition to fullfl edged GIS software, most of the major desktop
mapping software packages (e.g. ArcView) now
provide functions for incorporating remotely
sensed imagery. Also, the amount and kind of
commercially available remotely sensed data
continue to grow and will do so into the next century. Such developments should help those conducting environmental surveys such as the
wetland mapping projects and so on.
Summary
1. Man has discovered and invented various
means and tools to know about earth. One
such tool of today is the remote sensing (RS)
and the global information system or GIS
which enables man not only to know about
her resources, but also to fi nd ways and
means to utilise the resources in a sustainable manner through proper scientifi c management and conservation.
2. The classifi cation scheme of wetlands is a
mix of hydrological and biological (aquatic
plants diversity) factors. However, from a
practical conservation planning perspective,
the immediate need of the hour is to produce
a reasonably detailed classifi cation based on
a mix of habitats and aquatic vegetation.
3. It is important to prepare inventory of wetlands and their catchments in order to conserve and manage these unique resources.
Also, it is essential to store and analyse the
data. Digital maps are very useful tools to
achieve this objective.
4. RS is now recognised as an essential tool for
viewing, analysing, characterising and
making decisions about land, water and
atmospheric components. From a general
perspective, RS is the science of acquiring
and analysing information about objects or
phenomena from a distance. RS is the technique of deriving information about objects
on the surface of the earth without physically
coming into contact with them.
26 Habitat Mapping of the Wetlands on GIS Platform
better planning by local governments is needed to
help reduce the impacts of people on birds
(Milton and Dening 2008 ). The wetland managers need to be aware of the locations of the birds
in their respective habitats when they arrive there
for roosting, nesting, breeding, etc. They also
need to be aware of the impact of disturbance on
wetland birds’ energy budgets and take steps to
minimise disturbance to roosting wetland birds
(Milton and Dening 2008 ). It is important to note
here that internationally signifi cant number of
many species of migratory birds use the wetlands
for various purposes. In view of this, many wetlands have been designated as Ramsar sites of
importance.
Notwithstanding the above, it is known that
wetlands play a vital role in maintaining the
overall cultural, economic and ecological health
of the ecosystem. But their fast pace of disappearance from the landscape is of great concern.
Therefore, the wetlands are to be conserved
after proper mapping. Mapping of wetlands
could, perhaps, better be done by means of
available data and by also fresh data generation
using modern spatial technologies. Thus, by
using digital remote sensing data for wetland
mapping and analysis, information at any scale
of all wetlands will be available according to the
management and conservation requirements.
Further, a wetland conservation strategy should
have an extensive basis of participatory processes.
A hierarchical watershed-based approach will
have a positive impact in not only reversing the
chronic cases of wetland resource depletion but
also helping design a network of wetland conservation preserves. These preserves would
strive to not only conserve precious aquatic biodiversity but also help serve as a refuge for
important economically useful wild plants and
animal genetic resources.
Today, the growth in GIS-based functionality
has increased the possibilities for using remotely
sensed imagery in GIS-based analyses. The analyses for this wetland study benefi ted immensely
from the use of the many raster data processing
functions now residing in full-capability GIS
systems, such as ArcInfo and ERDAS Imagine.
As a result, those working with remotely sensed
data are fi nding that GIS can actually help mapping
specialists build and evaluate thematic data sets
from remotely sensed data. In addition to fullfl edged GIS software, most of the major desktop
mapping software packages (e.g. ArcView) now
provide functions for incorporating remotely
sensed imagery. Also, the amount and kind of
commercially available remotely sensed data
continue to grow and will do so into the next century. Such developments should help those conducting environmental surveys such as the
wetland mapping projects and so on.
Summary
1. Man has discovered and invented various
means and tools to know about earth. One
such tool of today is the remote sensing (RS)
and the global information system or GIS
which enables man not only to know about
her resources, but also to fi nd ways and
means to utilise the resources in a sustainable manner through proper scientifi c management and conservation.
2. The classifi cation scheme of wetlands is a
mix of hydrological and biological (aquatic
plants diversity) factors. However, from a
practical conservation planning perspective,
the immediate need of the hour is to produce
a reasonably detailed classifi cation based on
a mix of habitats and aquatic vegetation.
3. It is important to prepare inventory of wetlands and their catchments in order to conserve and manage these unique resources.
Also, it is essential to store and analyse the
data. Digital maps are very useful tools to
achieve this objective.
4. RS is now recognised as an essential tool for
viewing, analysing, characterising and
making decisions about land, water and
atmospheric components. From a general
perspective, RS is the science of acquiring
and analysing information about objects or
phenomena from a distance. RS is the technique of deriving information about objects
on the surface of the earth without physically
coming into contact with them.
26 Habitat Mapping of the Wetlands on GIS Platform