Landscape Fragmentation Analysis in and around Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

The study was conducted to figure out the landscape fragmentation in and around Rajaji National Park using landscape indices viz., total Class area (CA), number of patches (NP), patch density (PD), interspersion and juxtaposition Index (IJI) and largest patch index (LPI) over the classified LULC map of the study area during 1993 and 2015. Landsat imageries through spatial analyst programme FRAGSTATS 4.2.Comparative study of the landscape indices inside the protected area (2000 m buffer) and innermost protected area (excluding 2000 m buffer area) during 1993 and 2015 indices such as NP, PD, LPI decreased over time while, IJI got increased with respect to forest patch, which means interspersion is more and patch adjacency is getting increased during the analyzed period, which means inside the protected area fewer disturbances were observed. Meanwhile, comparison of landscape indices outside protected area (2000 m buffer outside PA) during 1993 and 2015 revealed that NP, PD increased overtime while, LPI and IJI decreased over time. Lower values of IJI characterize landscapes in which the patch types are poorly interspersed, means the outer side of protected area are more fragmented with respect to the inside boundary.