Research Projects

Climate change (CC) poses a significant threat to coastal regions worldwide, particularly in the Indian Sundrban region. The region is home to 5 million human inhabitants and is vulnerable to catastrophic cyclones and floods. The region's large saline water intrusion creates unsuitable conditions for agriculture and other livelihood options. The economic resilience of the population has become poorer due to climate change-related threats, leading to a large outmigration. The marginalized community of farmers is increasingly venturing into protected areas for forest product collection, resulting in man-tiger conflicts and failing the conservation effect in the long term. An environmentally sound framework for livelihood options is crucial for both the inhabiting population and biodiversity. This study aims to create a geospatial framework for land suitability information, helping to choose the best livelihood options for the people of Sundarban while reducing pressure on natural resources. The study will review the current state of knowledge regarding saline soil agriculture, cash crop options, and their environmental and socio-economic feasibility. Land parcels available as private and government land will be dynamically mapped using cloud computing-based Google Earth Engine A Programming Interface. The results of suitable livelihood options will be mapped in a web portal for public use, serving as a database for dynamic land-use information for policy makers and the scientific community.

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