Abstract

Forests in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats are undergoing changes in its structure and composition due to irrational policy decisions and mounting human pressure on forest services. Land-use changes in any form potentially result in fragmentation. The extent of the impact will depend on the type of change, the degree of fragmentation, and has effect in terms of patch size, patch shape, connectivity and isolation. This study investigates the spatial patterns of landscape fragment ation dynamics considering temporal data acquired through space borne sensors. Results revealed that forest vegetation has declined from 50.74% (1976) to 36.33% (2009) due to conversion of forests to agriculture, industrial and developmental activities.

Encroachment of forest land (22055.59 ha) and conversion to agricultural land is the principal cause of degradation at local level apart from land releases for major developmental activities. Forest fragmentation analysis through spatial metrics shows decline in the interior forest and domination of isolated patches. This study illustrates importance of understanding spati otemporal patterns of land use changes for sustainable management of tropical forests and help in formulating appropriate conservation measures for the region rich in forest resources.

Key words: Western Ghats, Chikkamagalur, LULC, Forest Dynamics, Forest Fragmentation, Landscape structure.