Goa: tourism, migrations, and ecosystem transformations

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Tourism Studies

Background:

• Goa's coastal ecosystems, including khazan lands and sand dunes, face transformation due to human activities.
• Population movements and tourism development are key drivers of environmental change in coastal regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of tourist-induced and other population movements in coastal ecosystem change in Goa.
• To assess the impact of tourism on land cover and land use in specific agro-ecosystems and sand dunes.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of coastal ecosystem changes in Goa, India.
• Assessment of land cover and land-use changes attributed to various forms of tourism.

Main Results:

• Ecosystem changes are driven by altered human-ecosystem relationships, not solely by population movements.
• Both land use and land cover have been significantly transformed, with varying degrees of change.
• Legal, political, and economic factors, including property rights, mediate land use and cover alterations.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the dynamic interplay between human activities and coastal ecosystems is crucial for effective environmental management.
• Tourism's impact on coastal environments is complex, involving direct land transformation and indirect socio-economic influences.
• Policy and legal frameworks play a significant role in shaping the outcomes of tourism development on coastal ecosystems.