PJB-2018-858
TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF BINDI DHERAJA RIVERINE FOREST OF SUKKAR, SINDH, PAKISTAN USING REMOTE SENSING
ATTA ULLAH
Abstract
Regional forest cover change detection due to anthropogenic and natural factors is critical. It is extremely important to evaluate the forest cover, and land use changes for planning and monitoring. Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) perform a significant role in real-time mapping, planning, and monitoring of forest resources. Using multitemporal Landsat satellite images, this study evaluated the forest and other land use cover changes along the river bank of Indus, Bindi Dheraja Sukkar, in southern Pakistan. Multitemporal Landsat images of the years 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2017, were obtained and classified into a forest and another land cover (LC) types. Furthermore, the change detection map was prepared from the classified maps of 2008, and 2017, for the forest cover and other land use changes during the period. Finally, the final classified maps were verified through systematic ground field sample points and high-resolution Google Earth imagery. The results highlighted that during the period (2008 to 2017), the area of forest cover reduced by 17.18 % with an annual declined rate of 1.72 %, while agricultural land increased by 26.4 % with an annual increase rate of 2.6 %. The area under water bodies and barren land decreased by 4.84%, and 4.81% with an annual decline rate of 0.48%. These results will be beneficial for continues planning, and monitoring of the forest resources of the region, and can be used by the locals, provincial, and national forest department in the context of sustainable forest management.
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