Climate change induced sea level rise and its impacts on the Tamil Nadu coast India framing ecosystem and community based adaptation strategies

Abstract

Climate change induced Sea Level Rise (SLR) is one of the greatest threats that humanity will face in the 21st century. Low-lying coastal plain regions are more vulnerable to the impact of SLR. In this perspective, to address the above mentioned issue from the Indian context, this study took an initiative to conduct an experiment with a study area stretching about 16.5km in length, covering total area of 6541ha at Vellar-Coleroon estuarine region of Tamil Nadu Coast in India. This study began with LULC (Land Use and Land Cover) classification of the study area by using remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information System) facilities and classified the entire study area into 14 classes. Further, observed past sea level changes in the Bay of Bengal region of Tamil Nadu coast were studied based on available tidal data and noted as 0.27mm yr-1 rise in sea-level from 1916-2008 with respect to Chennai tide gauge station. Further, this study presents an assessment of the predicted impact of the projected SLR (viz., 0.25m and 0.5m SLR) on the coastal natural resources and its dependent social communities of the study area. It has been quantified that, about 2286 ha and 2618 ha of LULC of the study area may be inundated from the total area of 6541ha. Stakeholder analysis has been done and key stockholders are identified in the above mentioned vulnerable hamlets that belong to 7 revenue villages of the study area. Integrated Coastal Zone Management Program (ICZMP) may make a way to meet India s requirement on National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) viz., National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) through State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC). Thus, this study is new of its kind, particularly in the developing countries like India with the multidimensional approach to provide a holistic vision on assessment of climate change induced SLR. It also throws a light on the urgent need to respond, as a foresight thought on proactive measures to face the greatest challenge of 21st century s cl