Assessingjhum-induced forest loss in Dibang valley, Arunachal Himalayas — A remote sensing perspective

Abstract

There has been a significant advancement in the application of remote sensing from various space altitudes for inventorying and monitoring ofjhum (shifting) cultivation associated forest loss. The dynamic nature ofjhum system, complex physiography, small size of individualjhum plots and their discontinuous nature of distribution, highly heterogeneous vegetation and ever-changing atmospheric condition in the Arunachal Himalaya posses a great challenge to local flora and fauna. Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)-1C/1D LISS-III data were used to classify the current and abandonedjhum areas in Dibang valley district. The amount of area occupied by current and abandonedjhum corresponds to 199.34 km2(1.53%) and 225.40 km2(1.73%) respectively. Field data were collected following stratified random sampling method to gather information on plant community occurring in abandonedjhum cultivated areas. It was observed that only nine species out of 45 contribute to 50% of the important value index (IVI). Of the 45 species, 7 species (15.56%) have been found to be endemic to Eastern Himalayas. Population inducedjhum cultivation has led to deforestation, biodiversity loss, increased surface soil erosion, and sedimentation of water bodies in this area. The potential use of satellite-derived maps can best be used for better management and land use planning.