Chakraborty, K (2009). Vegetation change detection in Barak Basin. CURRENT SCIENCE, 96(9), 1236-1242.

Abstract
The Barak Basin of northeastern India covers the states of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. The rich and diversified vegetation of the region is facing perturbation in recent years and large tracts of forest are being converted to non-forest. In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra (Vegetation Index) products of 250 m resolution for each year from 2000 to 2006 were used to detect the forest changes. The time series data of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from 2000 to 2006 were combined into a composite image to observe the changes. The forest change detection map was obtained by performing Principal Component Analysis technique on the EVI composite image. The composite image was classified into a map of forest change showing levels of disturbance in the region. Areas showing significant change were termed as 'hotspots'. Analysis of LISS III and LISS IV satellite data, selected from one of the hotspot sites helped inferring the reasons of perturbation in the region. It is seen that altered patterns of land use, particularly increasing shifting cultivation, seem to be the major causes for large-scale changes in the ecosystem.

DOI:

ISSN:
0011-3891