In this study we identify regions of and
quantify the extent of change in forest cover and other land use and land cover
features in and around the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats
of India. We document changes in land use and land cover over long timescales—decadal,
from 1991 to 2011 and over short timescales—yearly, from 2009 to 2011 using
satellite derived remotely sensed data. Broadly speaking, the term “remote sensing”
can be defined as the “science and art of obtaining information about an
object, area, or phenomenon through the analysis of data acquired by a device
that is not in contact with the object, area, or phenomenon under
investigation” (Lillesand and Kiefer 2008). Remotely sensed satellite data is
especially useful in recognizing large scale spatial features. Comparative analyses of the region at
different times using such data allows one to document changes in land use and
land cover over time and is especially useful in studies such as this where we
quantify changes in the forest cover in and around the Bhimashankar Wildlife
Sanctuary.
Rahul Chopra and Sanjana Singh
Environmental Studies Program, Foundation For Liberal
and Management Education, Pune
