2.2. Identification of Survey Sites and Transects
This study was extensive and highly structured. A field-based approach was used to collect data in 274 transects, and field visits were carried out in the riparian zones of rural, rural–urban transitional, and urban areas of the TGDR during 2019. Researchers collaborated with the local field staff who worked within the TGDR territory and were familiar with the entire region. All sample sites and transects were identified with the assistance of the field staff representative. The qualitative visual assessment method was chosen for rapid assessment of the TGDR riparian zones. A total of 40 indicators were used in this study (27 RHIs, and 13 pressure indicators; Figure 4). Considering the nature of all these indicators, RHIs were divided into five groups: habitat (H), plant cover (PC), regeneration (R), erosion (Er), and exotics (Ex). All pressure indicators were treated collectively in one index. A standard transect (100 m long and 20 m wide) was used parallel to the river to measure the extent of each RHI and pressure indicator as followed by other researchers (see Arif et al., 2021; Johansen et al., 2007). Because of the irregular width of the TGDR riparian zone, three points were used in all transects to obtain accurate measurements.
[Figure 4 to be inserted about here]