Development of a spatial database for Natural Resource Assessment and Management in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
Yogesh Dubey & V.B. Mathur
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
The overarching aim of development of spatial database of Tadoba - Andhari Tiger Reserve was to ensure the long-term conservation of its floral and faunal diversity along with other natural resources occurring within the reserve. This paper seeks to demonstrate the usefulness of GIS technology in conjunction with Remote Sensing for resource mapping and its management for enhancing management decision-making capabilities.
Databases are an important way of organizing and analyzing large amount of information. Computers are quite powerful tools which facilitate the decision making process. Natural resource planners require information on geophysical attributes, socio economic aspects of land use in and around protected areas and the animal/plant communities. The most pressing problem faced by the management is the lack of reliable information, lack of funds and insufficient staff to process whatever information is available (Yonzon et al, 1991). For effective planning and in order to overcome these problems, tools are required for analyzing and updating spatial information quickly and efficiently.
In this study a total of 48 themes depicting the availability, distribution and extent/abundance of physical and ecological attributes of the study area were derived using GIS technology. The various thematic data layers generated through this study provide valuable assistance in the assessment, management and monitoring of PA resources.
Methods
The methodology mainly involved the input of spatial data concerning various map layers and associated attribute data. Attribute data was analyzed along with spatial data layers to produce result oriented derived thematic maps. The main sources of spatial data were the Survey of India (SOI), 1:50,000 toposheets, satellite imagery (IRS IB, LISS-II, 1994) geocoded False Colour Composites, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, field data collected during study period and ancillary data taken from forest department records.
Results and Discussion
Forest Resource MappingSpace borne techniques are now widely used in vegetation mapping and distribution. A total of fifteen vegetation types were delineated from the satellite image (IRS IB LISS II,1994). Vegetation mapping was done at 1:50,000 scale (Plate 1). The forest cover was mapped based on the tonal and textural patterns obtained from satellite image. Important resources like grasslands which play an important role in providing forage for wild ungulates were also mapped using remote sensing data.
Animal Distribution & Abundance Animals form a major resource for management in protected area management system. Since the main thrust of protected area management is on managing the animal populations it becomes important to know how the animal populations are distributed in landscape in relation to vegetation communities. Apart from direct sightings data was collected through indirect evidences such as scats, kills, pugmarks, scrape signs and claw marks. This helped in generating a spatial distribution pattern of these two species of large cats in the study area (Plate 2).
Spatial Database & Resource Mapping Administrative maps showing different compartments, beats, round and ranges were produced from maps provided by forest department. These maps were rectified using Survey of India (SOI) maps of the area. Areas falling under reserve forest, protected forest and non-forest enclaves were delineated from satellite image. Topographic maps were prepared using SOI map and were then digitized.