ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

An Assessment of Geodiversity Potential and Landscape Fragmentation for Vulnerability Zonation: A Micro Scale Study from Purulia District, West Bengal, India

Geodiversity comprises the abiotic components of landscapes and plays a crucial role in sustainable ecological systems and environmental resilience. This study evaluates landscape vulnerability by incorporating block-level geodiversity potential and landscape fragmentation across the Purulia district of West Bengal using a geospatial technology. Geodiversity potential was quantified using a geodiversity index given by Serrano and Ruiz-Flano (2007). The calculated geodiversity index was classified into five categories, from very low to very high potential, using a natural break given by Jenks within a GIS environment. Landscape fragmentation was computed using the block-wise Number of Patches (NP) landscape metric, derived from FRAGSTATS 4.10 software and the Landscape vulnerability was computed using statistical techniques. It depicts the land use intensity of each block in Purulia district. Results showing spatial heterogeneity in geodiversity potential within a district, as plateau and hilly parts represent high potential, while low land area represents low potential of abiotic components. Several blocks with high geodiversity potential represent high NP value, indicating landscape fragmentation and anthropogenic pressure. By integrating potential class and fragmentation class, this study provides the vulnerable blocks where an abundance of abiotic components coincides with high landscape disturbance. The proposed block-level landscape vulnerability study provides a simplified yet robust approach for prioritising the geo-conservation and sustainable land use interventions. This study demonstrates that integrating geodiversity potential with landscape fragmentation leads to a practical pathway for micro-level environmental planning in a plateau area such as the Purulia district.