Remote Sensing-Based Evaluation of Ecotourism Potential Human-Induced Environmental Changes in the Maral Gol (Lake) Basin
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The Maral Gol region, located within one of Azerbaijan’s ecologically fragile highland zones, presents a complex interaction between naturally preserved landscapes and intensifying anthropogenic transformations. This study aims to analyze land cover dynamics in the Maral Gol Basin, assess human-induced impacts such as deforestation and unregulated tourism, and identify ecologically suitable zones for sustainable ecotourism with practical recommendations for long-term conservation and adaptive management. The study utilizes high-resolution multi-temporal remote sensing datasets, including Sentinel-2 MSI and Landsat 7/8 imagery, alongside spectral indices such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index), and NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index), to systematically evaluate both the ecotourism potential and the anthropogenic stressors affecting the region over the last two decades. Land cover classification, supervised image analysis, and change detection techniques were employed to map spatial-temporal patterns of vegetation health, hydrological variation, and land-use change. Field validation campaigns and geostatistical interpolation methods were applied to enhance the accuracy of remotely sensed interpretations. Findings indicate significant seasonal and interannual fluctuations in lake surface area, with concurrent vegetation decline in buffer zones-correlating strongly with deforestation, irregular grazing, unregulated tourism infrastructure development, and intensified land degradation. The study delineates zones of high ecotourism suitability based on three core dimensions: landscape aesthetic quality, ecosystem resilience, and accessibility to natural assets. A vulnerability-risk matrix is proposed to support adaptive management strategies and to inform spatial planning decisions aimed at harmonizing biodiversity conservation with sustainable tourism development. This research demonstrates that remote sensing-driven ecological assessment provides a robust, scalable framework for identifying environmental thresholds and managing the delicate balance between human activity and conservation in mountain lake ecosystems. The ecological trajectory of the lake is a critical indicator of landscape sensitivity and serves as a sentinel for human-induced environmental thresholds in Azerbaijan’s highland watersheds.
Author: U Mammadova
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7127092121