Enhancing flood resilience through mixed forest cover: A case study of the Upper Sabarmati River Basin, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The forest cover plays an important role in India as well as other countries. The decreasing forest cover in India is one of the major causes of floods in many low-lying areas. Hence, study investigates the novel approach of enhancing flood resilience through strategic augmentation of mixed forest cover in Upper Sabarmati River Basin, Gujarat, India. By leveraging SWAT(Soil & Water Assessment Tool) hydrological model, we explore various land cover change scenarios aimed at increasing mixed forest cover and optimizing plantation types within forested areas. Analyzing land cover data from 1985 to 2017, we introduce three scenarios augmenting mixed forest cover by 3%, 6%, and 9%. Our findings reveal a significant reduction in surface runoff by 4.5%, 7.8%, and 11.6% respectively, highlighting the innovative potential of mixed forest ecosystems in sustainable flood management strategies. This study elucidates the critical role of strategic forest management in mitigating flood risks within river basins, offering valuable insights for environmental policymakers and hydrologists.