Analysis of Spatial Changes in Jogimatti Forest Division, Karnataka, India Between 2009-2022

Time series analysis using multispectral imagery has become more widespread due to the availability of free Landsat data. Vegetation changes in forests are greatly influenced by vegetation dynamics and phenology, which are also essential indicators of interactions between the climate and the vegetation, changes in land use and land cover, and variability in yearly vegetation productivity. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the vegetation changes in Jogimatti Forest using time series analysis and produce a statistical report. Data is collected from LANDSAT between the years 2009 to 2022 at different periods. Despite fluctuations, thick vegetation notably expands, possibly due to afforestation or favorable rainfall conditions. Conversely, thin vegetation consistently declines, likely influenced by human encroachment and land-use changes. Utilizing remote sensing technology, the research underscores the importance of continuous monitoring for effective conservation planning. Findings provide insights into environmental dynamics and highlight the utility of remote sensing in detecting deforestation. Additionally, the study offers insights into Chitradurga District's rainfall patterns, emphasizing their significance in understanding local climate conditions and guiding forest conservation efforts.

I. Introduction

Forests play a vital role in climatic regulation and balancing atmospheric carbon. Human encroachment in the forest areas affects the forest ecosystem. Forest disturbances affect species composition [1], hydraulic dynamics [2], [3], the ability of forests to sink carbons [4], and nutrient cycling and retention rate [5]. Further, climatic change can cause an increase in the incidence and severity of fire, drought, and insect and pathogen outbreaks [6] which may cause forest disturbances. Forest mortality due to these reasons may vary [7]. Therefore, there is a need for continuous monitoring and analysis of forest cover changes and remote sensing (RS) can be widely used for detecting forest changes and updating change maps. The main focus of forest monitoring is to detect and estimate the land conversion rate [8]. Accurate land use land cover changes are desired by local conservation organizations for conservation planning and implementation [9].