Conservation, Management and Monitoring of Forest Resources in India

This volume is devoted to compiling recent advancements, methodological improvements, new processing techniques, integration methods and rigorous applications associated with conceptual techniques on the conservation and monitoring of forest resources for a scientific audience, with a focus on cases and applications in India. The primary objective of the book is to advance the scientific understanding of the recent trends and technological improvements in forest conservation, management and related research themes in forest resources and human-wildlife interactions. The book is organized into five sections: (I) Forest Conservation Ecology (II) Forest Conservation and Society (III) Forest Management (IV) Forest Monitoring using GIS and Remote Sensing and (V) Human Wildlife Conflicts. It covers various research themes related to forestry, wildlife, habitat fragmentation, forest management and human-wildlife conflict research, and therefore will be beneficial to a diverse range of researchers, scientific organizations, wildlife scientists, biologists, ecologists and planners in the fields of wildlife and forestry. The book will further be of use to post-graduates, PhD research scholars, professors, geospatial experts, modellers, foresters, agricultural scientists, biologists, ecologists, environmental consultants and big data compilers. Foreword Foreword Preface Contents About the Editors Part I: Forest Conservation Ecology Chapter 1: Introduction to Forest Resources in India: Conservation, Management and Monitoring Perspectives 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Ecological Role of Forests 1.1.2 Economic Role of Forests 1.1.3 Forest Types in India 1.1.4 Moist Tropical Forests 1.1.5 Dry Tropical Forest 1.1.6 Montane Sub-tropical Forests 1.1.7 Montane Temperate Forests 1.1.8 Sub-alpine Forests 1.1.9 Alpine Forests 1.2 Forest Resources of India 1.3 Protected Forest Regions 1.4 Major Threats to India ́s Forest Resources 1.5 Initiatives and Policy Measures by the State 1.6 Forest Conservation and Protection Policies 1.7 NGOs, Institutions and Public Participation 1.8 Conservation, Monitoring and Management Perspectives 1.9 Conclusion References Chapter 2: Assessment of Carbon Sequestration Using InVEST Model in Delhi, India 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Study Area 2.3 Database and Methodology 2.3.1 Preparation of Land Use-Land Cover Map 2.3.2 Generation of Carbon Sequestration Map Using InVEST Model 2.3.3 Accuracy Assessment 2.4 Results 2.4.1 LULC Assessment 2.4.2 Accuracy Assessment of LULC Maps 2.4.3 Assessment of Total Carbon Stored and Total Carbon Sequestration 2.5 Discussion 2.6 Conclusions References Chapter 3: Assessments of Bio-physical Characteristics of Vegetation Cover in Western Part of Purulia District in West Bengal 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Methods and Database 3.2.1 Study Area 3.3 Results and Discussion 3.3.1 Biological Features of the Study Area 3.3.2 Physical Features of the Study Area 3.3.3 Discussion 3.3.3.1 Bio-physical Characteristics of the Vegetation Cover of the Study Area 3.4 Conclusion References Chapter 4: Delineating the Mangrove Patches Along Coastal Kerala Using Geographical Information System, Satellite Data and Fie... 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Mangroves and Mapping 4.1.2 Mangroves in Kerala 4.1.3 Mapping of Mangrove Patches in Kerala 4.2 Spatial Distribution of Mangrove Patches in Kerala 4.3 Gathering Information on the Mangrove Patches Through Field Surveys 4.4 How to Map Mangrove Patches: Methods and Data Sets 4.5 Various Methods Employed for Mapping Mangroves 4.5.1 Google Earth Images (Google Earth Pro: Version 7.3.3.7786) 4.5.2 Sentinel-2 MSI (Multi-spectral Images) (Sentinel Application Platform Version 8.0) 4.5.3 Semi-automatic Classification Plugin (SCP) in QGIS (Version QGIS 3.10) 4.6 Accuracy Assessment of Image Classifications 4.7 Results and Discussion 4.7.1 Delineation of Mangrove Patches Using Google Earth Images 4.7.2 Delineation of Mangrove Patches Using SENTINEL-2A/B Using SNAP 4.7.3 Accuracy Assessment 4.8 Summary and Conclusion References Part II: Forest Conservation and Society Chapter 5: Significance of Social Systems in Forest and Biodiversity Conservation: Experiences from Jangal Mahals of West Beng... 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Database 5.2.1 Methodology 5.2.2 The Study Area 5.2.3 Geographic Specialty 5.2.4 The Human Communities 5.2.5 Biodiversity as Base of Ecological Systems 5.2.6 Biodiversity as Base of Social Systems 5.2.7 Forces and Factors of Biodiversity Depletion 5.2.8 Social System, Norms, and Customs as Forces of Biodiversity Conservation 5.3 Conclusion References Chapter 6: `Green Placemaking ́ in Kolkata: Role of Urban Greens and Urban Forestry 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Previous Works 6.3 Rationale of the Study 6.4 Study Area 6.5 Database and Methodology 6.6 Results 6.6.1 Spatio-temporal Change Analysis 6.6.2 Urban Green Space Analysis 6.6.3 Preparation of Tree Inventory 6.6.4 People ́s Perception on Urban Greenery 6.7 Discussion 6.7.1 Classifying Urban Greens 6.7.2 Urban Greens and Forests Within Kolkata 6.7.3 Identifying Loopholes in Existing Urban Greenery Management Practices 6.7.4 In Search of Amendments: Emerging Urban Forest in the City Fringes 6.8 Conclusion References Chapter 7: Forest Resource Scenario in Industrial Town: A Study of Asansol-Durgapur Region 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Study Area 7.3 Materials and Methods 7.3.1 Accuracy Assessment 7.3.2 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 7.3.3 Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) 7.3.4 Land Surface Temperature (LST) 7.4 Results and Discussion 7.4.1 Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover 7.4.2 Spatiotemporally of Deforestation and Transformation Forest Area into Other Land Use 7.4.3 NDVI of the Study Area 7.4.4 SAVI of the Study Area 7.4.5 Spatiotemporally in LST 7.4.6 Comparison of LST Between AMC and DMC 7.4.7 Urban Green Space of AMC and DMC 7.4.8 Correlation of LST with Urban Green Space Density and NDVI 7.4.9 Growth of Urban Areas of Paschim Bardhaman and Loss of Urban Green Space 7.4.10 Industrial Expansion and Reduction of Forest Cover 7.5 Recommendation and Policy Suggestions 7.6 Conclusion References Chapter 8: Floristic Composition and Inventorization of Forest Resources in Some Selected Forest Areas of Paschim Bardhaman Di... 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Materials and Methods 8.2.1 Study Area 8.2.2 Data Collection and Sampling 8.3 Data Analysis 8.4 Result 8.4.1 Economic Values Plants 8.4.2 Various Forest Resources ́ Livelihood Viewpoints 8.5 Discussion 8.6 Conclusion References Part III: Forest Management Chapter 9: Assessment of Forest Cover Change, Community Responses, and Conservation Strategy: Evidence from North Sikkim Distr... 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Study Area 9.3 Database and Methodology 9.3.1 Database 9.4 Methodology 9.4.1 Change Detection 9.4.2 Regression Analysis 9.4.3 Joint Forest Management and High Conservation Value as a Method of Forest Conservation and Management 9.5 Result 9.5.1 Change Detection Using NDVI Technique 9.6 Change Detection Analysis Based on Data Provided by Forest Survey of India and LULC Classification 9.7 Community Perception 9.8 Economic Profile of Local Communities and Participation in Forest Management Practices 9.9 Discussion 9.9.1 Formation and Activities of JFMC/EDC 9.9.2 Different Forms of Community Forestry 9.10 HCV as a Prospective Conservation Strategy 9.11 Conclusion References Chapter 10: Carbon Stock Assessment in Sub-humid Tropical Forest Stands of the Eastern Himalayan Foothills 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Materials and Methods 10.2.1 Site Description and Sampling 10.2.2 Methods Used 10.2.3 Statistical Analysis 10.3 Results and Discussion 10.3.1 Tree Species Richness 10.3.2 Biomass and Carbon Storage 10.3.3 Ecosystem Carbon Stock 10.4 Conclusion References Chapter 11: A People ́s Biodiversity Register of Henry ́s Island, Indian Sundarban 11.1 Introduction 11.1.1 Study Area 11.2 Materials and Methods 11.2.1 Peoples Biodiversity Register 11.2.2 Identifying Human-Led Environmental Degradation 11.3 Results and Discussions 11.3.1 People ́s Biodiversity Register 11.3.1.1 Identifying Human-Led Environmental Degradation 11.4 Conclusion References Chapter 12: Applications of Geospatial Technology on the Forest Management in Three Districts of North Bengal, India 12.1 Introduction 12.1.1 The Objective of the Study 12.2 Study Area 12.3 Methodology 12.4 Result 12.5 Discussion 12.6 Conclusion References Part IV: Forest Monitoring Using GIS and Remote Sensing Chapter 13: An Assessment of the Temporal Changes in Land Cover and Forest Fragmentation Using Geospatial Techniques: A Case S... 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Materials and Methods 13.2.1 Study Areas 13.2.2 Accuracy Assessment 13.2.3 Landscape Characterization, Forest Fragmentation Indices, and NDMI 13.3 Results 13.3.1 Classification Accuracy 13.3.2 Temporal Changes in LULC 13.3.3 Landscape Characterization and Forest Fragmentation 13.3.3.1 Mandla 13.3.3.2 Hoshangabad 13.3.4 Normalised Differential Moisture Index 13.4 Discussion 13.5 Conclusion References Chapter 14: Analyzing the Trend, Pattern, and Hotspots of Forest Fires Using Geospatial Techniques: A Case Study of Almora Dis... 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Study Area 14.3 Database 14.3.1 Methodology 14.3.2 Land Use/Land Cover Map Preparation 14.3.3 Forest Canopy Density (FCD) 14.3.4 The Trend of Forest Fires 14.3.5 Spatial Pattern of Forest Fires 14.3.6 Getis-Ord Gi* Hotspot Analysis of Forest Fires 14.4 Results and Discussion 14.4.1 Results of Accuracy Assessment 14.4.2 Results of LULC Classification 14.4.3 Forest Cover and Classes by FCD 14.4.4 Overall Forest Fire Assessment 14.5 The Trend of Forest Fire Occurrences 14.5.1 Year-Wise Forest Fire Occurrences 14.5.2 Month-Wise Forest Fire Occurrences 14.5.3 Day-Wise Forest Fire Occurrences 14.6 Spatial Pattern of Forest Fires 14.6.1 Year-Wise Spatial Pattern of Forest Fires 14.6.1.1 Forest Fire in 2001 14.6.1.2 Forest Fire in 2010 14.6.1.3 Forest Fire in 2018 14.6.2 Month-Wise Spatial Pattern of Forest Fires 14.6.3 Day-Wise Spatial Pattern of Forest Fires 14.6.4 Getis-Ord Gi* Hotspots of Forest Fires 14.7 Conclusions References Chapter 15: Approaches and Methodologies on Mapping Vegetation Cover and Biodiversity Status Using Remote Sensing and Spatial ... 15.1 Introduction 15.1.1 Contextual Background 15.2 Methods 15.2.1 Data Sources and Search Strategy 15.3 Overview of Vegetation Mapping Using Remote Sensing 15.4 Vegetation Mapping Through Image Fusion 15.5 Approaches of Vegetation Mapping 15.5.1 Worldwide Distribution of the Sampled Studies on Vegetation Mapping 15.6 Conclusion References Chapter 16: Application of Participatory Rural Appraisal and Geospatial Techniques for Analysing the Dynamics of Mangrove Fore... 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Study Area 16.3 Database and Methodology 16.4 Results 16.4.1 Impact of Climate Change on Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) 16.4.2 Climate Change and Vulnerability of Sundarban 16.4.3 Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics of Sundarban 16.4.4 Depletion of Sundarban Mangroves and Related Issues 16.4.5 Livelihood in Sundarban 16.4.5.1 Major Economic Activities in Sundarban: Agriculture Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency Concentration of Agricultural Labours Proportion of Agricultural Labourers and Workers 16.4.5.2 Minor Economic Activities in Sundarban Fishing and Honey Collection Honey and Wax Collection 16.4.6 Application of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Technique 16.4.6.1 Participatory Mapping Social Map Resource Map 16.4.6.2 Transects 16.4.6.3 Flow Diagrams 16.4.6.4 Seasonal Calendar 16.4.7 Micro Level Appraisal: Account from Gosaba Block 16.4.7.1 Statistical Accounts of Gosaba Block 16.4.7.2 Environment and Dependent Livelihood of Gosaba Block 16.5 PRA in Gosaba Block: Analytical Inspection 16.5.1 PRA Methods Employed in Gosaba Block 16.5.2 Mangrove Dynamics and Ecological Backlash in Gosaba Block 16.5.3 Submission of PRA and People ́s Participation in Gosaba Block 16.5.4 Appliance of PRA to Assess the Impacts of Hazards 16.6 Discussion 16.7 Conclusion References Part V: Human-Wildlife Conflicts Chapter 17: Changing Landscape and Escalating Human-Wildlife Conflict: Introspection from a Transboundary Landscape 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Study Area 17.3 Database and Methodology 17.3.1 Data Collection 17.3.1.1 HWC Incidence Data Compilation 17.3.1.2 Global Human Modification of Terrestrial Systems (HMOD) 17.3.1.3 Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Map 17.3.2 Processing 17.3.2.1 Kernel Density 17.3.2.2 Reclassifying HMOD Data 17.3.2.3 Landscape Fragmentation 17.4 Results 17.4.1 Kernel Density of HWC 17.4.2 Status of HMOD in the Landscape 17.4.3 Relationship Between HWC and HMOD 17.4.4 Landscape Fragmentation Concerning HWC 17.5 Discussion 17.6 Conclusion References Chapter 18: Issues of Biodiversity Conservation and Conflict in Gorumara National Park, West Bengal, India 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Description of Study Site 18.3 Methodology 18.3.1 Field Study 18.3.2 Biomass Estimation 18.3.3 Secondary Information 18.4 Results and Discussion 18.4.1 Flora and Canopy Cover in the Study Area 18.4.2 Ethnobotanical Study of Identified Medicinal Flora 18.4.3 Impacts of Large Scale Tree Felling 18.4.4 Enrichment of Atmospheric Carbon 18.4.5 Impact on Plant Species Diversity 18.4.6 Habitat Fragmentation and Increase in Road Kill 18.4.7 Barrier Effect on Wildlife 18.4.8 Increase in Human-Wildlife Conflicts (HWH) 18.4.9 Unplanned Plantation Programmes in GNP 18.4.10 Other Predicted Impacts 18.5 Conclusion and Recommendations References Chapter 19: Assessing Potential Habitat Suitability for Panthera tigris Using Multiple Grain Size and Different Ensemble Metho... 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Study Area 19.3 Database and Methodology 19.3.1 Preparation of Environmental Predictors 19.4 Data Standardization and Species Distribution Modeling 19.4.1 Maxent 19.4.2 Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) 19.4.3 Bioclim 19.4.4 Ensemble Model 19.5 Results 19.5.1 Maxent at 30 m Grain Size 19.5.2 Maxent at 900 m Grain Size 19.5.3 Ecological Niche Factor Analysis at 30 m Grain Size 19.5.3.1 Score Matrix and Model Evaluation 19.5.4 Habitat Suitability Analysis 19.5.5 ENFA at 900 m Grain Size 19.5.5.1 Score Matrix and Model Evaluation 19.5.6 Habitat Suitability Analysis 19.5.7 Bioclim at 30 m Grain Size 19.5.8 Bioclim at 900 m Grain Size 19.5.9 Ensemble Model 19.5.10 Importance of Bioclimatic Variables in Prediction of Panthera tigris Habitat 19.5.11 Comparison of Maxent With and Without Compression of Climatic Variables 19.6 Discussion and Conclusion Annexure References Chapter 20: Assessment of Prospective Check Dam Sites in Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar, with Integrated Analytical Hierarch... 20.1 Introduction 20.2 Study Area 20.3 Methodology and Preparation of Datasets 20.3.1 Topographic Position Index (TPI) 20.3.2 Topographic Ruggedness Index (TRI) 20.3.3 Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) 20.3.4 Sediment Transport Index (STI) 20.3.5 Stream Power Index (SPI) 20.3.6 Slope 20.3.7 Drainage Density (Line Density) 20.3.8 Stream Order 20.4 AHP-MCDA Criteria 20.4.1 Weightage Aggregation and Site Selection 20.5 Results 20.5.1 Discussion 20.5.2 Conclusion References Index