ANALYSIS OF DEFORESTATION OF RIVERINE FOREST OF SINDH USING REMOTE SENSING & ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP) TECHNIQUES

Abstract

The present research work focuses on mapping, monitoring, change detection, deforestation impacts and prioritization of deforestation factors. From our research it has been revealed that mapping area is of polygon shape and these polygons have been divided into four regions; region one comprises of two divisions Sukkur and Shikarpur (the total area of polygon is 199695 ha) official forest area of both divisions is (61116 ha). Region two comprises of two divisions Larkana and Dadu (the total area of polygon is 222808.79ha) official forest area of both divisions is (65124.7287 ha). Region three also comprises of two divisions Nawabshah and Hyderabad (the total area of polygon is 178266.7943ha), official forest area of both divisions is (68642.785 ha). Fourth region comprises of only Thatta division (the total area of polygon is 94226.6571ha) and official forest area is (51979.66 ha). Secondly our research revealed alarming changes in the whole region which have been continuously monitored from 1979 to 2010. The overall forest cover in 1979 was 28.86%, 1992, 23.80%, 1998, 9.59%, 2000, 6.44%, 2006, 5.47%, 2009, 3.89%, 2009-12, 3.71% and 2010, 2.96%; overall change observed in forest area is 25.07%. Similarly the study focused on regional temperature by continuous monitoring of riverine forest from 1992 to 2009, the average temperatures in 1992 were 39 °C, 1998, 43.38°C, 2000, 36.56°C, 2003, 42.42°C and 2009, 44.34°C. The variations of temperatures have influenced and impacted overall climate of the Indus basin, which has changed the riverine ecosystem. The satellite data indicates a significant rise in average temperatures to 4.15OC (1992- 2009). This variation in temperature has brought about associated factors such as deforestation, droughts, global warming and socioeconomic conditions. These changes in temperature and forest cover have a direct impact on depended factors such as Temperature Increase 7%, Reduction of Grazing area 22%, reduction in livestock 22%, Mass Migration 15%, Poverty 24%, Land Encroachment 8% and Bad law and order 7%, all these factors have been affected by deforestation in Indus basin.