A Spatio-temporal analysis of land use land cover changes of dry tropical forest ecosystem of Chhattisgarh, India

Land use changes have an adverse effect on biodiversity loss, rising temperatures, nutrition, ecological interruption, and economic growth, they have gained substantial attention on a global scale. Widespread human activity is a major cause of deforestation, which increases vulnerability to land deterioration and results in a major loss of native land cover. The present study was carried out in land use change detection analysis of dry tropical forest ecosystem at Barnowapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh, India through the satellite remote sensing which is renowned for its diverse range of species and rich flora. This includes flora with a range of traits and significance in terms of medical usefulness. The results revealed that the LULC was classified in seven classes (164.45 km2) over the past three decades, considerable forest and agricultural areas have been lost due to anthropogenic activities, with a significant portion of the remaining land experiencing varying degrees of degradation. The change detection during 2005-2023 in DMF (18.21%), SMF (14.39%), TF (12.92%) and WB (4.48%) was gradual decreased, whereas, OMF (33.16%), AG (6.51%) and HB in (10.33%) area was increased. In this study, forest vegetation was converted to open mixed forest, agricultural land, and habitations due to anthropogenic activities like illicit felling of forest, collection of fuel woods, medicinal plants, and NTFPs, and grazing and lopping by local peoples. The study concludes on land use changes in dry tropical forests, allowing for a deeper understanding of human and ecological dynamic and also recommended for policy and practice in managing land use in dry tropical ecosystems.