Anthropogenic and Hydroclimatic Drivers of Livelihood Vulnerability in Wetland Communities: A Geospatial and Pragmatic Assessment

Over the last few decades, the degradation of wetlands has significantly contributed to the decline in rural sustainability and the exacerbation of livelihood losses, particularly pronounced among wetland communities in developing nations. This paper employs a pragmatic approach and geospatial modelling to scrutinise the vulnerabilities in the livelihoods of these wetland communities. The primary focus of the study is to comprehensively analyse the ramifications of climate variability, natural disasters, alterations in wetland hydrology, diminishing fish diversity, sanitation concerns, anthropogenic pressures, and infrastructural development on the livelihoods of these communities. Along with a field observation-based pragmatic approach, geospatial techniques, Fragstat modelling, and water quality analysis, methods were employed in a mixed methods analysis. A Multi Criteria Decision Making Approach (MCDMA) was adopted to quantify the final composite rank of the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI). In our mixed methods approach, we utilised qualitative interventions such as focus group discussions (FGD) to understand the complex issue of livelihood vulnerability of wetland communities. Our analysis revealed that the vulnerability of wetland communities has been increasing due to anthropogenic pressures. To maintain the stability of the livelihoods of wetland communities, all indicators studied need to be optimised or supported by various state and non-state actors to reduce vulnerability. Graphical Abstract