Analyzing the Relationship Between Vegetation and Temperature Changes in the Sylhet Region

As global temperatures continue to rise, understanding the relationship between climate and vegetation is crucial for agriculture and for mitigating and adapting to environmental changes. The complex interaction between vegetation and climate becomes even more significant as temperatures increase, making it essential to comprehend these changes in the environment. This study investigates vegetation dynamics in the Sylhet region of northeastern Bangladesh between 1988 and 2025, focusing on how long-term temperature changes have influenced vegetation cover. The research utilizes Landsat-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) datasets from 1988, 1995, 2005, 2015, and 2025, alongside monthly temperature records from NOAA’s NCEI. The temperature data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and descriptive statistical method to examine the relationship between vegetation and climate. The results show that dense vegetation declined sharply, with an estimated net loss of ~12.9 km2 converting to sparse vegetation and ~1.5 km2 converting to urban/barren land between 1988 and 2025. At the same time, sparse vegetation expanded, while urban area/barren land areas increased substantially. Water bodies also showed reductions. Over the same period, the mean annual temperature rose by +0.32 °C. These findings highlight the region’s ecological vulnerability to combined climatic and anthropogenic pressures, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable land management and adaptive strategies.