Environmental Transformation and Biodiversity Dynamics in the Rural–Urban Fringe of Jalgaon District, Maharashtra: A Spatiotemporal Analysis

The rural–urban fringe areas represent critical transition zones experiencing rapid environmental transformation due to urbanization pressures. Jalgaon District, located in North Maharashtra, has witnessed significant land-use changes over the past two decades, potentially impacting local biodiversity patterns. This study examines the spatiotemporal patterns of environmental transformation and their impacts on biodiversity in the rural–urban fringe areas of Jalgaon District between 2000 and 2023. We employed remote sensing data from Landsat satellites, conducted field surveys across 45 sampling sites, and used the Shannon Diversity Index, Simpson's Index, and Principal Component Analysis to assess biodiversity changes. Land-use/land-cover (LULC) classification was performed using supervised classification techniques with 87% overall accuracy. Agricultural land decreased by 23.4% (142.6 km²), while built-up areas increased by 156.8% (94.3 km²) in the fringe zone during 2000–2023. Species richness declined from 124 to 89 species, with a 28.2% reduction in Shannon Diversity Index (H' = 3.42 to 2.45). Significant negative correlations were observed between urbanization intensity and biodiversity indices (r = -0.73, p < 0.001). Rapid urbanization in Jalgaon's fringe areas has led to substantial biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation. Urgent implementation of green infrastructure and conservation corridors is recommended to mitigate further ecological degradation.