Why is it in the news?

• Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, conducted a study on the natural vegetation cover in the Cauvery basin.
• The study reveals a significant loss of green cover in the Cauvery basin over the past five decades.

Key Findings of the Study

• Over 12,850 sq.km of natural vegetation in the Cauvery basin lost between 1965 and 2016.
• Karnataka: Accounted for one-third of the lost natural vegetation.
• Tamil Nadu: Contributed to one-fifth of the lost cover.
• 46% decrease in natural vegetation observed.
• Dense vegetation cover reduced by 35%.
• Degraded vegetation experienced a significant decline of 63%.
• Protected areas such as Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary were notably affected.
• Bannerghatta National Park witnessed a decrease in its moist deciduous forest area from 50% in 1973 to 28.5% in 2015 due to human activities impacting the park and its surroundings.

Location of Cauvery River

• Origin: Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range near Cherangala village of Kodagu district, Karnataka.
• Drains into Bay of Bengal at Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu.
• States Covered: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• Important Tributaries: Left Bank: Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, and Arkavati; and Right Bank: Lakshmantirtha, Kabbani, Suvarnavati, Bhavani, Noyil, and Amaravati.
• Major Projects: Krishnaraja Sagar dam, Nugu, Mettur, and Grand Anicut projects.
• Protected Areas along Cauvery Basin: Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary; Bandipur National Park; Nagarhole National Park; Bannerghatta National Park; and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.