GIS APPLICATIONS TO THE

MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS
CASE 1
GIS for Resource Management at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Study area: Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA),

•Management of a large area: 0.6 million hectares (1.5 million acres)

of terrestrial and aquatic habitat in the LMNRA is complicated by
various issues.
•Key responsibilities of the National Park Service (NPS) are to
understand, preserve, and manage the variety of landscapes,
ecosystems and cultural resources while providing for the public
enjoyment of these lands.
•A Geographic Information System (GIS) will be able to meet NPS's
need for resource data inventory, management and integration.
CASE 2
Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) Role in Interdisciplinary
studies of Fluvial Geomorphology
and Riparian Ecosystems

•Geographic Information Systems is a tool Natural Resource Managers use to assist with
Education/Research, monitoring, analysis/decision-making, and planning.

•Riparian management includes the protection of water resources, aquatic-terrestrial

organisms, as well as land and vegetative resources for sustainable production.

•One way GIS could shape the future of the field of watershed management in that it allows
managers to provide communities with the tools to be informed of their ecosystem’s health,
and to realize the impacts of various actions.

•Citizens will be able to make decisions and take actions toward maintaining and monitoring
a productive ecosystem and watershed.
 A Satellite Based Monitoring of Changes in Mangroves in Krabi, Thailand

•This study is a demonstration of a

simple and logical technique to display
and quantify mangrove forest change
on different date interval I.e. 1995, 2000
and 2002.

•The results from this study could be

providing draft information on mangrove
changes over the period of 1995 - 2002.
 Management of Coral Reefs in Gulf of Mannar using Remote Sensing and
GIS Techniques – with Reference to Coastal Geomorphology and Land
Use
• In Gulf of Mannar, the coral reefs have been used as a source of calcium carbonate and
building block
• Coral reefs in Gulf of Mannar can be categorised as “degrading”
requires monitoring and management of these valuable marine resources.
• Survey of India Topographic Sheet (1969), Naval Hydrographic Chart (1975) IRS LISS-III
(1998) satellite data and ARC-INFO and ARC-VIEW GIS software were used to:

1. Assess the current status of coral reefs in Gulf of Mannar based on remote
sensing and GIS approach
2. Assess the changes that have occurred in the spatial distribution of coral reefs
during the period 1988-1998 using multidate remote sensing data
3. Study the coastal geomorphology and its influence on the coral reefs
4. Study the influence of landuse/landcover changes on the coral reefs
5. Suggest suitable management measures for sustainable management and
preservation of coral reefs in Gulf of Mannar region
Location map of the study area (Gulf of Mannar)
Coastal Landform mapping
 Shoreline Changes

LEGEND
Coastal Accretion
Coastal Erosion
Island Erosion
Island Accretion
Waterbody
Land Area
 LEGEND
Coastal Accretion
Coastal Erosion
Island Erosion
Island Accretion
Shoreline mapping Waterbody
Land Area
Bathymetry map of Gulf of Mannar (1975)
Bathymetry map of Tuticorin coastal region (1999)
Bathymetry map of Tuticorin coastal region (1999)
Coastal landuse/landcover map of Gulf of Mannar coastal area derived
from IRS LISS-II satellite data (1998)
Coral reef map of Gulf of Manner derived from IRS LISS-III (1988) satellite
data
CASE 3
CASE 4
 Development Concept
1. Physical Development
• sustainable development.
• comprehensive management plan
• ‘green’ infrastructure
development
1. Zoning
• special protected zone
• sustainable use zone
• buffer zone
1. Recreational
• public recreation zone
activities
• coastal recreation zone
• wilderness recreation zone
The Concept for Recreational Activities
Users - both local and international tourists
- all levels and groups

Strategy – a spectrum of outdoor

recreational/ecotourism activities
based
• on park’s
Wildlife natural setting
observation
• Jungle Trekking
• Organised camping
• Picnic
• Nature photography
• Fishing
• open sea fishing
• fishing lodge
• Tree top walk
• Solitude
 Floral Diversity
• More than 1000 spp. recorded;

• Dominant Families;
Dipterocarpaceae
Leguminoceae
Apocynaceae
Anacardiaceae
Euphorbiaceae dan
Moraceae

• Comercial species
Seraya (Shorea curtisii),
Meranti (Shorea spp.),
Melantai (Shorea macroptera),

• Species with attraction

nepenthes plant
fern
herb
 Natural Resource Management

The natural resource of the park will be manage

and conserved to ensure the protection of wild
flora and fauna through:-
• Habitat Management
- conservation and restoration of habitat.

• Wildlife Management
- protection of biological diversity
- conservation program of endangered
species.