CSIR-NBRI develops satellite-based tool to map greening priorities along river corridors

Lucknow: Researchers at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) have developed a scientific decision-making tool that helps cities identify priority zones along riparian corridors for greening and ecological restoration, with initial testing conducted on the Gomti river corridor in the state capital.The study detailing the tool was published recently in the journal Environmental Management and was made public on World Environment Day on Friday.The research was led by NBRI senior principal scientist Dibyendu Adhikari. NBRI researchers Priya Verma and Satyabhan Singh, along with Lucknow University botany professor Ratna Katiyar, were part of the team.Called an Integrated Spatial Decision-Support Framework, the tool functions as a structured “health check-up” for river-adjacent urban landscapes.It combines satellite imagery, land-use information, soil parameters and field observations to produce a priority map that can guide ecological planning. The framework integrates the inputs into a single measure termed the Composite Restoration Index, intended to offer a more reliable basis for action than decisions based on one indicator or visual assessment alone.“The advantage of the index is that it does not rely on a single factor or visual inspection alone. Instead, in one go, it gives you an idea of what steps are required for ecological restoration,” Adhikari said.The framework relies on freely available satellite and spatial datasets and processes them using commonly used platforms, including Google Earth Engine, R and QGIS, making it a cost-effective option for municipal bodies, planning agencies, researchers and conservation groups.When applied to the Gomti corridor, the model highlighted uneven ecological conditions across different stretches. Some segments showed healthier vegetation cover, while others indicated stress marked by reduced greenery, elevated land-surface temperatures, increased exposure of bare land and weaker soil-related indicators. Researchers said the results can help authorities plan targeted interventions.The tool can support plantation drives, riverfront green buffers, soil restoration, invasive species management and climate-responsive greening strategies. NBRI director Ajit Kumar Shasany said the approach could help cities optimise limited restoration resources.