Conclusions

Temporal remote sensing data showed reduction of vegetation by 7% from 1972 to 2000 and a decrease of 4.72% from 1972 to 2007. The reason for increase in vegetation from 2000 to 2007 is the spread of invasive species Lantana camera in and around the watershed. Change detection methods revealed a declining trend of forest patches (38%) during the last three decades due to increase in plantation and settlement area which was absent in 1972 and has significantly increased to ~7% (99 ha) in 2007. Forest fragmentation model showed that interior forest has declined by 57% (from 752 ha in 1972 to 106 ha in 2007). Patch forest which was absent till 2000, has increased up to 23 ha in 2007. Patches comes from many sources, ranging from our abilities to visualise and delineate what they represent, to their usage as conceptual units and patch dynamics models and to societal biases such as land ownership and anthropogenic activities. However, forest fragmentation which is degrading the ecosystem of the watershed requires immediate protection measures from the concerned authorities.