NDVI-Based Geospatial Analysis of Forest Cover Alterations in Daldali Reserve Forest, Assam, India

Geospatial analytics integrates spatial as well as temporal data with conventional datasets, enabling for the blossoming of visual representations of the data. A Geospatial tool serves a key function in analysing the shifts in land use and land cover (LULC). The study conducts a comprehensive comparative and analytical analysis of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes in Daldali Reserve Forest (RF) from 1994 to 2024 using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) method. The investigation focuses on the transformation of vegetation cover over three decades, with NDVI maps from 1994, 2009, and 2024 serving as the primary data sources. The NDVI range was classified into five threshold values: below 0 for water bodies, 0 to 0.2 for bare soil, rock, sand, and cloud, 0.2 to 0.3 for shrubs and grassland, 0.3 to 0.5 for sparse vegetation, and above 0.5 for dense vegetation. The analysis reveals significant trends, including a marked decline in dense vegetation, an increase in sparse vegetation and shrub/grassland, and a troubling expansion of bare soil and degraded land. The study identifies both anthropogenic and natural factors as drivers of these LULC changes. Deforestation and land use change, forest fires, climate change, and soil erosion are highlighted as key contributors to the observed degradation. The ecological implications are profound, with potential consequences including biodiversity loss, disruption of ecosystem services, and reduced resilience to climate change. In response to these findings, the study recommends a multifaceted approach to conservation and restoration, including sustainable forest management, reforestation, fire prevention, soil conservation, and the restoration of hydrological balance. Strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, promoting alternative livelihoods for villagers, and enhancing biodiversity conservation efforts are also critical. The study underscores the urgency of collective action by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and local communities to restore the health and vitality of Daldali RF, ensuring its long-term sustainability and continued provision of ecological, economic, and cultural benefits.