Studies on Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in Southern Dandakaryanaya with Special Reference to Forest Fragmentation in and around Bailadila Region

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I An overview on Dandakaranya and objectives of the study

1.1 An overview on Dandakaranya

1.1.1 Dandakaranya : Etymology and mythology

1.1.2 Dandakaranya : Present extents

1.1.3 Dandakaranya: Gelogy

1.1.4 Dandakaranya : Minerals and mines

1.1.5 Dandakaranya : Forest and wildlife

1.1.6 Dandakaranya : The tribals

1.1.7 Dandakaranya : The DNK project

1.1.8 Dandakaranya : BRGF program

1.2 Objectives of the study

CHAPTER II Land use land cover changes of southern Dandakaranya

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Materials and methods

2.2.1 Study area

2.2.2 Methodology for land use land cover change detection

2.3 Results

2.3.1 Land use land cover changes

2.3.2 Land use land cover change rate

2.4 Discussion

CHAPTER III Forest fragmentation in and around Bailadila hill range

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Materials and methods

3.2.1 Study area

3.2.2 Methodology

3.2.2.1 Image processing

3.2.2.2 Analysis of forest cover change rate

3.2.2.3 Analysis of forest fragmentation

3.3 RESULTS

3.3.1 Forest cover change

3.3.2 Forest fragmentation

3.4 Discussion

CHAPTER IV General discussion and conclusion

Research Objectives and Topics

The primary objective of this work is to assess and document the spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover in the southern Dandakaranya region over a 25-year period (1991–2016), as well as to investigate the extent of forest fragmentation in and around the Bailadila hill iron ore range using geoinformatic technologies.

• Monitoring long-term land use and land cover dynamics.
• Evaluating forest cover change and rates of deforestation.
• Analyzing forest fragmentation patterns using landscape matrix parameters.
• Assessing the environmental impact of mining and human activities.
• Providing data-driven insights for sustainable forest management and conservation.

Excerpt from the Book

Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER I An overview on Dandakaranya and objectives of the study: This chapter provides a historical, mythological, and geographical background of the Dandakaranya region and defines the study's core research objectives.

CHAPTER II Land use land cover changes of southern Dandakaranya: This chapter presents a longitudinal analysis of land use patterns using remote sensing and GIS data from 1991 to 2016 to track environmental changes.

CHAPTER III Forest fragmentation in and around Bailadila hill range: This chapter examines the specific environmental degradation and fragmentation of forest cover in the Bailadila mining area using landscape ecology metrics.

CHAPTER IV General discussion and conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the study's findings, linking them to broader conservation debates and offering recommendations for future management strategies.

Keywords

Dandakaranya, Bailadila, Land Use Land Cover (LULC), Forest Fragmentation, Remote Sensing, GIS, Deforestation, Biodiversity, Landscape Ecology, SLOSS debate, Iron Ore Mining, Sustainable Management, Environmental Conservation, Geoinformatics, Vegetation Cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The research focuses on the environmental transformation of the southern Dandakaranya region, specifically investigating changes in land use patterns and the resulting forest fragmentation in the Bailadila hill range.

Which areas are identified as the main thematic fields?

The main thematic fields include environmental science, landscape ecology, geoinformatics, satellite image processing, and biodiversity conservation.

What is the primary objective of the work?

The primary objective is to quantify land use/land cover changes over 25 years (1991–2016) and to evaluate the degree of forest fragmentation caused by factors like mining and land conversion.

Which scientific methods are employed?

The study utilizes remote sensing and GIS techniques, including supervised classification of Landsat imagery, calculation of annual rates of deforestation, and analysis of landscape matrix parameters such as patch density and largest patch index.

What does the main body of the work cover?

The main body covers a comprehensive overview of the region, detailed methodology for change detection, statistical results on forest cover loss, and a discussion on the ecological consequences of these changes.

What are the characterizing keywords of the study?

The study is characterized by keywords such as Dandakaranya, Bailadila, forest fragmentation, LULC, remote sensing, and biodiversity conservation.

How has the etymology of Dandakaranya evolved according to the author?

The author notes that while traditionally known as the "Forest of Punishment," the modern state of the region justifies calling it the "forest that is being punished" due to ongoing environmental exploitation.

What is the significance of the Bailadila hill range in this study?

The Bailadila hill range serves as a critical case study because it is an ecologically sensitive area experiencing severe forest fragmentation due to large-scale iron ore mining activities.

Does the study relate its findings to international ecological theories?

Yes, the study links its findings on fragmentation to the "SLOSS" (Single Large or Several Small) debate in conservation biology, discussing how patch dynamics affect wildlife protection.