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Environment
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Using Remote Sensing for monitoring and evaluation natural resources in chiang MAI province
Anu Omakupt
Director of Land Use Planning Division
Wirat Thongma, Saengchom Pojsompong
Senior Agronomist, Present Land Use Survey Sub-Division
Thailand
Agricultural encroachment into forestlands is a major problem in the areas with increasing population pressure. The loss of forests is significant in itself, but it can also lead to the destruction of other important land resources, which may be of very far greater economic value than the increased agricultural production. Forest resources in Thailand are facing at the critical point. The forestlands have been decreased at the alarming rate, that causing to natural environment degradation. This study is to propose the information's of the forest encroachment include land use management measures on the various Watershed Classes in National Reserved Forests, National Parks and wildlife Sanctuaries Chiang Mai Province, north of Thailand, by using remote sensing technique.
Procedure
During the study, the following materials provided primary information.
- Landsat-TM imagery, band 2, 3 and 4, at the scale of 1:50,000, which were recorded at the beginning of the year 1988.
- Panchromatic aerial photos at the scale of 1:15,000, which were taken in 1984.
- Topographic maps at the scale of 1:50,000.
- Map of National Reserved Forests, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries at the scale of 1:550,000.
- Watershed Classes maps at the scale of 1:50,000.
- Information's of hill tribe peoples in Chiang Mai Province.
Transferring the boundary of National Reserved Forests, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Watershed Classes and location of hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai Province on to the topographic maps. Interpret in Landsat-TM images; divide land uses boundaries by using photo interpretation technique. The elements that have been sued consisted of color tone, texture and land use pattern. Panchromatic aerial photos will be help to use to delineate all those land use types. Three land use types are divided as cultivated land, deteriorated forestland and forestland. To verify the result of photo interpretation, Checking and updating the data were carried out in the field. Transferred those land use boundaries on to the topographic maps, which have the details of National Reserved Forests, National. Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and unreserved forests boundaries, include Watershed Classes and location of hill tribe villages. The natural resources maps that show land use types and management practices will be formed include the details of land use types on various Watershed Classes, the amount and location of hill tribe villages in each National Reserved Forest etc., and land use management measures on these areas.
Results
The total coverage area 13, 122, 976 rais 1/ of National Reserved Forests, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and unreserved forests in Ching Mai Province have been encroached approximately 2, 986, 582 rais or 22.7 percents of the total area and can be divided as follows.
Watershed
Class |
Cultivated land
(rais) |
Deteriorated Forest
(rais) |
Total Area |
| Rais |
Percentage |
| 1A |
485,415 |
394,678 |
880,093 |
6.7 |
| 1B |
90,102 |
76,686 |
166788 |
1.2 |
| 2 |
299,754 |
320,030 |
619,784 |
4.2 |
| 3 |
248,907 |
73,511 |
322,418 |
2.5 |
| 4 |
178,132 |
85,956 |
264,088 |
2.0 |
| 5 |
83,735 |
32,637 |
116,372 |
0.9 |
| Unknown |
420,073 |
196,966 |
617,039 |
4.7 |
| Total |
1,806,118 |
1,180,464 |
2,986,582 |
22.7 |
1/ 1 rai = 0.4 acre
Information's of hill tribe peoples in various Watershed Classes
| Watershed Class |
Amount of
Villages |
Amount of
Households |
Population |
| Amount |
Percentage |
| 1A |
153 |
2,122 |
19,078 |
13.5 |
| 1B |
32 |
596 |
4,053 |
2.9 |
| 2 |
229 |
4,724 |
29,608 |
20.9 |
| 3 |
153 |
4,033 |
25,640 |
10.1 |
| 4 |
58 |
91,610 |
9,598 |
6.8 |
| 5 |
9 |
311 |
1,416 |
9.0 |
| Unknown |
412 |
9,928 |
52,081 |
26.3 |
| Total |
1,046 |
23,324 |
141,474 |
100 |
Information of hilltribe people in various forest types
| Forest Type |
Amount of
Villages |
Amount of
Households |
Amount of
Population |
| National Reserved Forest |
747 |
17,441 |
100,892 |
| National Park |
30 |
811 |
6,120 |
| Wildlife Sanctuaries |
18 |
533 |
3,402 |
| Unknown |
251 |
5,539 |
31,060 |
| Total |
1,046 |
24,34 |
141,474 |
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