S. Kaliraj., M.Tech (Geomatics), Indian Institute of Surveying & Mapping (IIS&M), Survey of India, Hyderabad. AP 500039. K.

. Mahendran, Course Coordinator, Rural Technology Centre, Gandhigram Rural Institute (DU), Dindigul..

Remote sensing is a technology of imaging the features present on the

earths surface.
The satellite image taken from same area in different period of time (i.e.

January 1977, 1991 and 2006) used to explore and to indentify the species types and to estimate their changes.
Integrated Remote sensing & GIS, GPS has provided high accuracy of

result in biodiversity conservation and monitoring studies.

Detection and estimation of changes in biodiversity in an inaccessible

area made possible with a higher accuracy through this technological intervention, which is not feasibly by the conventional methods.

The study Devanampatti Reserved Forest located in Tiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu.

The total area is about 181.450 sq.km. The geographical latitude extension is 12o 06 09.93N to 12o 16 58.38 N and longitude extension is 79o 15 47.12E to 79o 25 05.64 E. The area locates 10 km Southeast from Tiruvannamalai and 70 km from North West from Villupuram, 32 km South West from Nangilikondan village.

Location of study area (Courtesy: Landsat TM imagery).

The study area comprises deciduous forest, mixed forest, and shrub, and scrub vegetative cover. An altitude about 429m to 440m MSL and commonly deciduous forest covered with this region.

South, South East and North West part accumulated with mixed forest.
The foothill region consisting shrub and scrub vegetation covers.

A Number of small tributaries and stream orders flow from West towards South East.
Sand and gravel is found to be distributed along foothill and water bodies.

The study area comprises sub-tropical climate condition.

The annual average rainfall is 22cm.

Rainfall varies from 31cm during the North East monsoon from November to December .
About 26cm rainfall during South West monsoon from June to October. The optimum temperature is 27oc and the humidity ranges from 69 to 78% during the summer and winter season respectively

The spatial analysis of the study area carried out in two flavours. 1. Image classification technique, 2. Changes Detection Matrix Technique. Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) of the supervised classification technique is used to classify the forest types. Image differencing and image ratio technique is used to estimate the changes between different periods.

Sl.No
1. 2. 3.

Satellite & sensor

Landsat TM Landsat TM Landsat ETM+

Date of Acquisition
Jan 27, 1977 Jan 29, 1991 Jan 24, 2006

Spectral Bands
Blue, Green, Red, IR Blue, Green, Red, IR Blue, Green, Red, IR

Spatial Resolution
30 m 30 m 30 m

Digital image interpretation technique applied on the satellite imagery taken 1977, 1991 and 2006 to target the location and spatial distribution of forest species. Ground-Sampling Points collected by GPS.

Using the pixel of GSP, the Cluster created.

As per the spectral behavior of cluster image classified Five classes such as Deciduous forest, Mixed forest, Shrub vegetation, Rocky exposure and sandy/ Gravel deposits, etc.

Each Forest types converted into vector layers with appropriate geo database using ArcGIS 9.3 software. The changes in spatial distribution and location in of each forest types computed between the different years 1977, 1991 and 2006 The Volume of Changes detected and the differences in its area inputted into Change matrix analysis to calculate changes between each specific Forest features.

Landsat TM and ETM+, satellite imagery acquired on January in 1977, 1991 and 2006.

As the result of Image Classification, the following types of forests identified such as deciduous forest, mixed forest, shrub and scrub vegetation.
In 1977, Deciduous forest occupied the area about 57.85 sq. km. The mixed forest spatially distributes at the periphery of deciduous forest at low elevation of hilly region and the total area of this is 35.30 sq km in 1977.

This increased in its area is about 41.75 sq.km in 1991, but in 2006 again decreased to 34.41sq.km.
Shrub vegetation distributed at the foothills, its area is 24.41sq.km in 1977 and increased upto 41.75 sq.km in 1991, again decreased into 34.41 sq.km.

80 70 Area in Sq.Km 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1977 1991 Years 2006 Deciduous forest Mixed forest Shrub vegetation Hilly rock Sand/gravel

Forest types have dynamic changes between 1977 and 1991 as well as between 1991 and 2006. Each type had undergone significant changes in their location and the area of distribution in year by year. Deciduous forest occupied with mixed forest and shrub vegetation. Most of the land cover under deciduous forest changed as rocky exposure and degraded landforms.

There was no change observed in 19.32 sq.km of deciduous forest. Remaining area was occupied with other features such as mixed forest, shrub etc. The area of extend is 7. 24 sq. km of deciduous forest changed as mixed forest and 17.11 sq.km areas was turned into shrub vegetation. The large deciduous cover is about 12. 36-sq.km area changed as rocky exposure in 1991.

Estimation of Changes in Forest Features between 1977 and 1991

35 Changes in 1991 (area in sq.km) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Deciduous forest Mixed forest Shrub vegetation Hilly rock exposure Sand/gravels

Deciduous forest 19.328 7.2754 17.1156 12.3619 1.75197

Mixed forest 4.9185 11.81 13.6932 19.4871 3.269

Shrub vegetation 1.14084 11.834 5.90241 0.55027 4.97082

Hilly rock exposure 3.28595 3.68378 5.02854 30.8613 1.79591

Sand/gravels 10.91481 7.09217 2.32517 0.41479 8.18019

Specific Forest Feature changed into other feature

From the year of 1991 to 2006, tremendous changes have occurred among all types of forest features. Deciduous forest cover of 13.82 sq.km of area have not changed in its location and distribution. The total area of deciduous forest about 29.60 sq.km in 1991, and this was decreased to 13. 82 sq.km in 2006. The mixed forest and shrub vegetation decreased to 15. 11 sq.km and 6. 43 sq.km respectively. Rocky exposure, sandy deposits / gravel and eroded landforms were increased between 1991 and 2006.

Estimation of Changes in Forest Features between 1991 and 2006

35 Changes in 2006 (area in sq.km) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Deciduous forest Mixed forest Shrub vegetation Hilly rock exposure Sand/gravels

Deciduous forest 19.328 7.2754 17.1156 12.3619 1.75197

Mixed forest 4.9185 11.81 13.6932 19.4871 3.269

Shrub vegetation 1.14084 11.834 5.90241 0.55027 4.97082

Hilly rock exposure 3.28595 3.68378 5.02854 30.8613 1.79591

Sand/gravels 10.91481 7.09217 2.32517 0.41479 8.18019

Specific Forest feature changed into other feature

The result of change detection matrix analysis reveals that the changes in area and distribution of forest between the year of 1977 and 2006. They had attained dynamic changes at huge amount into rocky exposure and eroded landforms. During this period, the total cover of rocky exposure was 44.67 sq.km and it got increased up to77.79 sq.km in 2006. About, 31.18sq.km area of deciduous forest was lost its vegetation, that area occupied with sandy and gravel landforms, rocky waste. About 5.50 sq.km area of mixed forest replaced by degraded landforms like rocky waste and gravel landforms

Changes Detection of Forest Biodiversity between 1977 and 2006

90

80
70 Area of Changes (in sq.km) 60 Deciduous forest 50 40 30 20 10 0 1977 2006

Mixed forest
Shrub vegetation Hilly rock Sand/gravel

 It is proved that Remote Sensing & GIS technology produce valuable

results on change detection and estimation of large - scale forest covers.

There is dynamic changes occurred on each types of forest features in their

original location, area and distribution.

Significant amount of deciduous forest, mixed forest and shrub vegetation

degraded into other types of landforms may be due to continuous erosion and / or deforestation, lack of rainfall, etc.
The rich forest biodiversity has undergone threatening stage & changes

into unwanted landforms.

This study can be lay foundation for futuristic planning and decision

making to conserve and protect the forest biodiversity.

S. Kaliraj., M.Tech (Geomatics) Indian Institute of Surveying & Mapping (IIS&M), Survey of India. Hyderabad. AP 500039.