Geospatial Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Change in Alappuzha District, Western Kerala, India

Rapid urbanization has altered land use and land cover, leading to a decline in environmental quality. Monitoring these changes with LULC analysis is, therefore, indispensable. This study looks at LULC changes in Alappuzha district, Kerala, for the years 2000, 2015, and 2025 using Remote Sensing and GIS. LULC maps were generated from Landsat images using Maximum Likelihood Classification for five categories: agriculture, built-up land, mixed vegetation, uncultivable land, and water bodies. The results indicate substantial reductions in mixed vegetation (35.63%), agricultural land (23.88%), water bodies (20.25%), and uncultivable land (14.32%) between 2000 and 2025. Conversely, built-up land expanded by 344.61%, indicating rapid urban growth. Socioeconomic changes, population growth, climate change, and shifts in employment patterns have contributed to the decline in agricultural areas. The observed decreases in mixed vegetation and water bodies highlight ecological stress and underscore the urgent need for restoration initiatives. The study highlights the need for well-planned land-use strategies that prioritise resource sustainability and ecological protection. Further research into the effects of LULC Changes on surface temperatures, hydrology and biodiversity is recommended to inform environmental planning in the ecologically sensitive Alappuzha district.