Finding changes within protected habitats: an assessment of landscape characteristics using geospatial techniques in the lower Shivalik landscape of the Western Himalayas

Abstract

A GIS-based approach was used in this study to assess 10 years of land-use change in the lower Shivalik landscape of the Western Himalayas, India. The landscape encompasses two major protected areas which are home to a thriving population of large mammals. The main objective was to identify the changes in the land use pattern, specifically after forming a new tiger reserve in the landscape. Landsat 8 and 4 imagery were used for the time series analysis for the years 2018, 2013, and 2008, respectively. The change was calculated using nine land use classes, with mixed forest showing the highest change value, followed by agriculture, grassland, and scrub. The dense forest area increased immensely after the formation of the new tiger reserve. The results for dense and mixed forest classes also identified less fragmentation in the number of patches during the same time. Even though most of the landscape is within the boundaries of a protected area, the change in land use forms is noticeable. As development activities continue to expand, this region will face increased strain, which will impact the area’s natural biodiversity. To protect that, a long-term conservation management effort is required.

Keywords:

• Change detection
• fragmentation
• protected areas
• wildlife habitat
• conservation

Acknowledgement

Chief Wildlife Warden Uttarakhand, Field Director Rajaji Tiger Reserve, and Field Director Corbett Tiger Reserve are thanked for providing permits to survey protected areas. Mr. Shehzad and Mr. Sipu are thanked for their assistance in the field.

Authors contributions

Tamali Mondal: Conceptualisation, data management, analysis, writing, editing, finalisation.

Dinesh Chandra Bhatt: Writing, editing, supervision.

Ramesh Krishnamurthy: Conceptualisation, funding, supervision, writing, editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to the National Tiger Conservation Authority for funding this study under the grant [No. WII/KR/PROJECT/DRONE/2015/018] and Dr.V.B. Mathur (former Director) and Dr. G.S. Rawat (former Dean) of Wildlife Institute of India for facilitating the same.

Notes on contributors

Tamali Mondal

Tamali Mondal is working as a senior project associate at the Wildlife Institute of India. She is experienced in working in the fields of landscape ecology and management, invasion ecology, forest fires, and habitat management. She is trained in geospatial techniques and has published seven research papers. She has 9 years of research experience.

Dinesh Chandra Bhatt

Dinesh Chandra Bhatt was engaged as Professor Emeritus, Department of Zoology & Environmental Science Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Ha has 41 years of research experience in the field of Bird breeding ecology, bioacoustics, diversity, and conservation biology. Dr Bhatt has published 88 research papers and 13 book chapters in different national and international journals.

Ramesh Krishnamurthy

Ramesh Krishnamurthy is a Senior Scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Professional interests include Landscape Ecology, Conservation of Mammals and Birds, Landscape Dynamic Modelling including Climate and Anthropogenic Effects, and Reintroduction Integration of advanced technologies in Wildlife Research and Management, such as GPS/Satellite Telemetry, Wireless Sensor Applications and Un-Manned Aircraft (Drone). Dr Ramesh has published 50 research publications.