Land Use Change and its Impact on Terrestrial Biodiversity of Surrounding Areas of Jim Corbett National Park

Located at the Shivalik Himalayas' foothills, near the worldwide popular hill-station of Nainital, the beautiful park is famous for being home to a huge number of Bengal tigers, the highest among any Indian national park. So many other mammals, including tigers, leopards and elephants (wild), roam in this park. On the edge of the Western Ramganga Reservoir, the Sonanadi zone is habitat to elephants and leopards, along with more than hundreds of species of fowl. Also CNP is a prime protected area of Uttarakhand forest as it provides ecological viable, profitable and sources of different income for local people. Dense forest cover is one among the most natural resources for every animal (Including human) directly and indirectly. But rapid excessive exploitations of the different vegetation, woods, shrubs species for human development here are now under the threat of biodiversity loss and uncovering forests. Present study focused on significance of terrestrial biodiversity, reason of land use changes and threats to terrestrial biodiversity (TB) because of land use change, terrestrial biodiversity of the local area is influencing by various ways. For continuous use of the forest ecosystems, it is very important to find the land use land covers changes and its negative impacts on biodiversity and surrounding environment. Forest resources are the full of vital material, base of direct and indirect human’s continuous progress and it needs to monitor the status and change of forest resources timely for logical exploitation of forests and its renewal. Present study focused on monitoring the changes in the forest areas, surrounding barren land, build-up area and natural resources.