High Altitude Wetland Information System using Geo-informatics

This report summarizes mapping of High Altitude Wetlands (HAWs) and creating a geospatial data base in state of Himachal Pradesh at 1:50,000 scale using remote sensing data which would help in planning maintenance and conservation of special wetlands and play significant role in the hydrological cycle and water resources of the state. The Indian Remote Sensing Linear Imaging Self Scanning (IRS P6 LISS III) digital data having four spectral bands: Green, Red, Near Infra-Red (NIR) and Short Wave Infra-Red (SWIR) with spatial resolution of 24 m was used for mapping of wetlands. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) derived from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data was used to classify the lakes as per altitude range. Wetland layers comprising Wetland extent, Open-water extent and Aquatic vegetation extent have been generated for each wetland. A classification system based on International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCNR) and amenable from satellite data was used to categorize the wetlands. A Total of 19 types of wetlands were delineated using a hierarchical system. High Altitude Wetlands is one of the classes mapped, which is first such attempt in the India.