Anthropogenic Forcing and Its Ecological Consequences on Saint Martin Island's Environment in Bangladesh: Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Author: Khan Mohammad Ibtehal, Md Ashikur Rahman, Md Yeamun Hasan Soumick, Rabina Poudyal
DOI: doi.org/10.70279/bmj-v1-1096

Saint Martin’s Island, the only coral-bearing island in Bangladesh, is a unique and ecologically sensitive region experiencing significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes due to anthropogenic influences. The aim of the study was to determine the land use and land cover changes from 1990 to 2023 years and determination of the changes of different types of ecosystems due to anthropogenic forcing. The research study employed Landsat satellite imagery for data analysis with the help of remote sensing and GIS techniques. Over the 33-year study period, built-up areas increased by 0.0477 km², while vegetation and barren land decreased by 0.1728 km² and 0.2799 km², respectively. Agricultural land expanded by 0.5014 km², replacing natural landscapes due to growing population pressure and rising tourism. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) indicated increased agricultural expansion at the expense of dense vegetation cover. Population growth surged from 3,700 in 1996 to 9,000 in 2021, while tourist influx rose from 150–200 in 1997 to 6,000–7,000 in 2018. Alarmingly, coral cover shrank from 1.3284 km² in 1980 to 0.3942 km² in 2018, and coral species declined from 141 in 1980 to 41 in 2015, highlighting severe ecological degradation. The study underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to regulate land use and tourism, ensuring the island's ecological sustainability.
Collaborative efforts between researchers and policymakers are crucial to preserving Saint Martin’s Island’s biodiversity and mitigating further environmental damage.