Implementation of Forest Canopy Density Model to Monitor Tropical Deforestation

Proper monitoring and assessment of the tropical deforestation or degradation is a prerequisite for judicious management and planning activities at a regional or global level. Satellite remote sensing has proved a cost effective means of mapping and monitoring environmental changes in terms of vegetation and other ecological issues. In this study attempt has been made to monitor the forest deforestation or degradation in a natural forest stand of Assam, north east India using Forest Canopy Density (FCD) Mapping and monitoring Model. The present study reveals a massive decline in forest area between the period 1987 to 2010 i.e., total area under deforestation is found to be 843.76 km(2) which account 26.28 % whereas the area under regrowth is found to be 227.07 km(2) (i.e., 7.07 %) of the total study area. Accuracy assessment of the 2010 classified image indicates overall accuracy of 84.0 % with kappa coefficient of 0.77. The results show the ability of FCD model to detect the temporal change in forest canopy density. This study also reveals the potentiality of Landsat data in monitoring the changes in the terrestrial ecosystems.