Abstract

Environmental degradation can be predicted and managed in a sustainable manner by the perodic analysis of the Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) change pattern, which not only helps to revitalize the environment but also helps to improve future land-use policies. With the Rohingya influx in 2017, the Kutupalong Mega Camp area in Bangladesh is at a severe risk of environmental degradation as the area is experiencing remarkable LULC change. The aim of this research is to illustrate the LULC change in the Kutupalong Mega Camp before and after the refugee influx, as well as its impact on the surrounding environment because of this change. The spatial and temporal variation of the LULC is analyzed from the classified multi-temporal Landsat images for years-2015, 2018, and 2021. The study reveals gradual decrease in forest cover of the area, which is replaced by the increasing human settlements. The study found an inverse relation between the refugee influx and the vegetation cover, where a positive relation to the bare land and settlement exists. The area experienced about ten times increase in human settlements during 2015–2021, which resulted deforestation of surrounding forest cover. Between 2015 to 2021, 74 % of forest cover of the studied area has been cleaned up for newer settlements, with an increase of wetland to meet the needs of increasing refugee population which has made the scenario worse. We also noticed an increase of Land Surface Temperature (LST) within a short period, where the average temperature increase rate is 0.06% during 2015–2018 and 0.01% during 2018–2021. The ecosystem, wild-habitat, and the thermal environment has been disturbed to a great extent due to this drastic change of forest cover mostly by the increasing anthropogenic activities in this area. The study represents the present scenario in comparison to its natural setting just a few years ago, and may serve as a guidance for the concerned authorities and international humanitarian organizations to develop a sustainable, comprehensive, and environment-friendly land management plan in order to protect the surrounding forest-ecology as well as the humanitarian works.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.