Assessment
of spatial changes in forest cover and deforestation rate in Eastern Ghats
Highlands of Odisha, India
Ch.
J. Dash1, P.P. Adhikary1*,? M. Madhu1, S.
Mukhopadhyay2, S.K. Singh2,3 and P.K. Mishra4
1ICAR-Indian
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation,? Research Centre, Koraput-763 002,
India
2ICAR-National
Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Kolkata-700
091, India
3ICAR-National
Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur-440 033, India
4ICAR-Indian
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun-248 195, India
*Corresponding
Author E-mail: partha.adhikary@icar.gov.in
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Key
words
Deforestation
Forest cover
Forest fragmentation
GIS
Remote sensing
Publication Data
Paper received : 05.08.2016
Revised received : 16.12.2016
Re-revised received :
19.04.2017
Accepted : 08.08.2017
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Abstract
Aim: The spatial
changes in forest cover and deforestation rate over eight decades in Koraput
district of Odisha, a mountainous part of Eastern Ghats Highland region was
studied using remote sensing and GIS. The dynamics of forest fragmentation
was also quantified using patch analysis.
Methodology:
The
multi-source and multi-date mapping was carried out using Survey of India
topographical maps (1930's), Landsat MSS (1973), Landsat TM (1990), IRS P6
LISS III (2004 and 2013) satellite images. Radiometric and contrast
correction was done to the images using digital image processing software.
On-screen visual interpretation of forest cover was done which was aided by
unsupervised classification. Ground truthing was done to determine the
classification accuracy. Patch analysis was done to quantify forest
fragmentation.
Results:
The
mapping accuracy varied between 71.8% and 93.3 % for different years under
study. The results for 1932, 1973, 1990, 2004 and 2013 indicate that the
forest cover for the mentioned years were 4413.4 km2, 3706.0 km2,
3051.1 km2, 2554.4 km2 and 2284.5 km2, which
were 52.7%, 44.2%, 36.4%, 27.3% and 25.8% of the geographical area of the
district, respectively. The deforestation rate was 0.38% per year during
1932-1973, 2.04% per year during 1973-1990, 1.71% per year during 1990-2004
and 0.63% per year during 2004-2013. The decline in overall rate of
deforestation in recent years indicates increased emphasis on forest
conservation. The number of fragmented forest patches was 398 in 1932, 645 in
1973, 688 in 1990, 697 in 2004 and 702 in 2013, which indicates ongoing
anthropogenic pressure on the forests. The mean forest patch size decreased
from 111 km2 in 1932 to 65.8 km2 in 2013.? ?
Interpretation:
This
study indicates the effectiveness of remote sensing in indentifying the
forest and non-forest area. The change analysis of deforestation provides a
decisive component for conservation and helpful in long term rational
management of the remaining forests of the district for eco-restoration and
sustainable development.
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