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Temporal Change Detection Study of The Predefined Forest Cover of Burdwan District, West Bengal, India

Classification: -
The satellite images are classified in ERDAS Imagine through Supervised Classification method. The training sites are collected from field visit and fed in signature editor of ERDAS Imagine. By these signature images are classified.

Change Detection Study:
For a change detection study the maps are overlapped and the specific display system is used in which only the changes are showed. From this the changes can clearly identify.

Out Put Generation:
The out put map is created on ARC GIS and ARC VIEW GIS by overlapping various maps and integrating the databases.

Results & Discussion
On the basis of overlay analysis temporal changes of forest cover area from 1961 to 2006 are represented in table 1.

From table 1 it is found that 24% deforestation has been made from 1961 – 1991, whereas during 1991 – 2000 substantial amount i.e. 18% forest cover have been increased particularly in reserve forest area. But again a decreasing trend of 9% was found from 2000 – 2006. But the most interesting thing is that the shape of the forests area remains same (Fig 3).

Figure 3 Vector overlay of the forest cover of 1961, 1991, 2000 and 2006 of Burdwan

In 1961 map Shebdanga and Orgram Beat are visible but in 1991 map both the beats cannot be seen, though both of the maps are created on same scale and same coordinate system. Some forests are renamed and some forest area such as Aduria and Ausgram beat are increased. Since 1961 to 2006 there is an overall reduction of 15% in forest coverage. Population expansion and uncontrolled grazing (degrading specially the low canopy areas) are one of the major causes of degradation of forest in this district during 1961 – 1991. In conjugation with population expansion the agricultural need was also increased. During 2000 – 2006 major cause of forest degradation is rapid urbanization of the district. Moreover unplanned urban sprawl is damaging the primary drainage system thereby generating excess runoff water during rainy season, which is detrimental for plant growth.

Figure 4 Probable areas for developing protected forest, agro forestry and social forestry

For sustainable development of forest cover in Burdwan district agro-forestry, social-forestry and development of protected forest area can be recommended. Older alluvium region of this district, which is very fertile for agriculture, is also very much suitable for developing for agro-forestry whereas lateritic ultisols and younger alluvium, relatively less fertile are favourable for developing social-forestry. Protected forest area can be developed in red and yellow ultisols region of this district (Figure 4).

Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge Prof. J.K.Datta, Department of Environmental Science, Burdwan University, for his critical evaluation and suggestions, which greatly helped to improve the manuscript.

References:
Abbasi, A. P and S.J. Khajedin Commissioning the potential habitat of Pinus Nigrawith using of RS and GIS techniques for recultivation of deforested area occasional study (Watershed of Sarkhoon, Chaharmahal Bakhtiyari Province- Iran); Map Asia, 2006 Bajpai, R.K and S. Dasgupta Technological advances using Remote sensing and GIS in forestry sector of India ; Map Asia, 2006 Dasgupta, S, P.Lakhchaura and D. Panday Use of remote sensing and GIS in assessment of TOF-A case study from Panjab, India; Map Asia, 2006

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