Conclusion

The spatio temporal landscape dynamics analysis revealed the loss of primeval evergreen forest from 1973 to 2010. The land cover analysis results increase in non-vegetated area from 2.18%(1973) to 10.08% (2010). The temporal forest transition shows evergreen forest cover is decreased from 87.11% (1973) to 35.42% (2010) and increase in agriculture land as well as built-up area. The land cover analysis revealed increase in non-vegetated area from 1973 to 2010. The zone based analysis that coastal and plains have undergone higher land use changes having more deforestation rates than Sahyadri interior. The plantation of exotic species of vegetation led to the loss of primeval forests in the region. The temporal changes with respect to developmental projects were supplemented with three areas of each zone. Large scale land cover changes were observed with the implementation of large scale projects. Built up area has increased from 0.48 (1973) to 3.24 (2010) % in the case of Supa dam, 1.72 (1973) to 33.85 (2010)% due to project Seabird  and area under evergreen forests declined from 45.85%(1973) to 2.48 (2010)% due to West Coast paper mill.  Considering the impending climate change due to global warming, it is essential to adopt holistic approaches in the forest resources management to ensure sustainability. Regions degraded due to various developmental projects need to be restored with native species. There is a need to bring awareness among local communities of cultivating in regions above 30% slope to minimise episodes of landslides.