V. Hanumantha Rao, A.V.L.N. Rao, V. Vasudeva Rao, A. Baleeshwar Reddy and C. Sarala
Abstract
An attempt is made to address, develop and evaluate the existing plant diversity at proposed uranium mining site of Lambapur and Peddagattu for demarcating potential areas for protection and conservation. By using 1 x 1 km grid with five random sampling points documented the flora with spatial and nonspatial data covering the pre- and post monsoon seasons. Using GIS software developed the flora layers to prepare indices such as species richness, diversity and seasonal variations. Based on the derived results, spatial interpolation maps were prepared. The study shows that the site has very little heterogeneity in vegetation type in therocky out crops near Lambapur, Utlapally, Peddagattu and Parvedula. In rest of the habitats suffered severely due to high frequency of poaching, grazing, fires & tree exploitation. Continuous monitoring of the area in the fixed sampling points helps effective ecological evaluation and sustainability of the region during the pre and post implementation of the project activities.