The land cover land use analyses of selected protected areas and their respective buffer zones illustrate the status and loss of forest cover temporally. The land use analysis has been carried out from 1973-2016 under 9 categories using Gaussian Maximum Likelihood algorithm. The land cover analysis has depicted in Figure 3 (A, B, C) and Figure 4 (A, B, C) highlights loss of vegetation cover from 1973 to 2016. The construction of series of dams from 1980-2005 on Kali river, which flows through ADTR region has resulted in loss of vegetation. The land cover analysis SWLS region had lost vegetation cover from 77.77 to 73.56 %, of vegetation transition. MWLS region shows loss of vegetation cover from 87.46 to 83.98 %, core portion of WLS has not much transition in its cover as compared with buffer. The land use analysis further confirms the changes from 1973 to 2016 due to anthropogenic activities as shown in Figure 5 (A, B, C) and Figure 6 (A, B, C). The ADTR region has lost evergreen forests from 84.43 to 50.51 % (1973-2016) with an increase in plantations (13.51) and agriculture areas (4.66). The eastern part of ADTR has influence of Haliyal taluk’s villages and which is major reason for forest loss. The nearby hydro projects and their subsequent developments are also disturbing the region. The increase in deciduous forest cover is depicted in buffer region at the cost of evergreen cover due to various alterations. The increase in built-up area in the buffer region highlights the growth of Dandeli town and other villages as 0.19 to 1.20 % (2016). The SWLS land use analysis highlights evergreen cover has reduced from 27.55 to 22.87% by 2016 with increase in moist deciduous cover and forest plantations as 28.28, 4.26 % respectively. The land use changes were noticed major changes from 1973 to 1992 as compared with 1992-2016. The creation of new roads inside WLS and forest plantations has impact on forest cover. The forest plantations were increased in the Linganmakki reservoir area in the core and buffer regions. The buffer region has more number of villages and horticulture activities (11.64 %) resulting creation of more open spaces with the loss of vegetation. The MWLS land use analysis highlights evergreen cover has reduced from 25.04 to 21.95% by 2016 with increase in moist deciduous cover, the loss was mainly construction of series of dam such as Chakra, Savehaklu inside WLS. The shift from agriculture to horticulture (18.35%) is another major change noticed during 1992-2016 in and around WLS. The move from traditional forming to rubber cultivation has impacted on flora and fauna as well as hydrological regime of entire region. This has resulted in low water yield in the perennial rivers flow through the parks.
The CA_MARKOV analysis has helped in visualization of land use for year 2025 based on previous land use analyses. Simulated and predicted Land uses depicted in Figure 7 & 8 (A, B, C) highlight the three protected areas reflect the same trend as increase in non-vegetative areas. The land use changes as compared to buffer region, ADTR core region has least changes of forest cover but buffer region has lost major forest cover near to existing developments and increase in forest plantations. The region lost evergreen forests from 50.51 to 47.17% (2016-2025) with an increase in plantations and agriculture areas. The population pressure also another factor for forest cover change in SWLS region as the increase in deciduous forest cover depicted in buffer region at the cost of evergreen cover due to various alterations. The increase in built-up area in the buffer region highlights the growth of various towns and other villages. The shift from agriculture to horticulture is noticed at very high rates in buffer areas as constituted 9% of entire region. Projected land use of MWLS highlights loss of vegetation cover during 2016 to 2025 due to anthropogenic activities. The population pressure is also another factor for forest cover change in the buffer region and all agriculture regions are getting transformed to coffee plantations in post 1980’s. The increase in horticulture (15.32%) is depicted in buffer region at the cost of forest cover due to various alterations. The increase in built-up area in the buffer region highlights the growth of various towns and other villages.

Figure 3 (A, B, C): Land cover analysis of ADTR, SWLS, MWLS regions with 10 km buffer.

Figure 4 (A, B, C): Land cover analysis of ADTR, SWLS, MWLS regions from 1973-2016.

Figure 5 (A, B, C): Land use of ADTR, SWLS, MWLS from 1973-2016.

Figure 6 (A, B, C): Land use dynamics of ADTR, SWLS, MWLS.

Figure 7 (A, B, C) Simulated and projected land use of ADTR, SWLS, MWLS.
Figure 8 (A, B, C): Simulated and projected land use of ADTR, SWLS, MWLS for 2016 & 2025.