This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-reso...This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-resolution satellite images to assess the long term deforestation from 2001 to 2009 and also to identify episodic forest cutting areas appeared during the conflict period of Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008. There are only 58 ha of deforestation identified during the conflict period while 1268 ha of gross annual deforestation were assessed during last eight years. Most of the deforestation patches persist around the administrative boundaries at sub-district levels (tehsils) which can be attributed to ambiguity in unclear jurisdiction between the forest official. The results highlight that the forest cutting appeared in Swat and Shangla during the conflict period is not as significant when compared with the long term deforestation pattern in the area. On the one side the results of the study are supportive to the picture that emerges from international studies which report high rate of deforestation in the country and on the other side it negates any relation between the security situation and the increasing deforestation in the north western Pakistan. The study concludes that deforestation assessments require verification by independent sources of data, such as satellite imagery to improve our understanding of deforestation processes.展开更多
Deforestation is a major environmental challenge in the mountain areas of Pakistan. The study assessed trends in the forest cover in Chitral tehsil over the last two decades using supervised land cover classification ...Deforestation is a major environmental challenge in the mountain areas of Pakistan. The study assessed trends in the forest cover in Chitral tehsil over the last two decades using supervised land cover classification of Landsat TM satellite images from 1992, 2000, and 2009, with a maximum likelihood algorithm. In 2009, the forest cover was 10.3% of the land area of Chitral(60,000 ha). The deforestation rate increased from 0.14% per annum in 1992–2000 to 0.54% per annum in 2000–2009, with 3,759 ha forest lost over the 17 years. The spatial drivers of deforestation were investigated using a cellular automaton modelling technique to project future forest conditions. Accessibility(elevation, slope), population density, distance to settlements, and distance to administrative boundary were strongly associated with neighbourhood deforestation. A model projection showed a further loss of 23% of existing forest in Chitral tehsil by 2030, and degradation of 8%, if deforestation continues at the present rate. Arandu Union Council, with 2212 households, will lose 85% of its forest. Local communities have limited income resources and high poverty and are heavily dependent on non-timber forest products for their livelihoods. Continued deforestation will further worsen their livelihood conditions, thus improved conservation efforts are essential.展开更多
The Loess Plateau(LP)is an ecologically fragile region due to its sensitivities to climate variations and anthropogenic influences[1].The Chinese government recognized the ecological significance of the LP and impleme...The Loess Plateau(LP)is an ecologically fragile region due to its sensitivities to climate variations and anthropogenic influences[1].The Chinese government recognized the ecological significance of the LP and implemented a series of ecological restoration and conservation policies since 1999.Revegetation of degraded ecosystems of the LP is mainly attributed to the environmental protection policies.These policies are led by Grain for Green(GFG)project,supported by some vegetation conservation programs.The GFG project,also known as the Conversion of Cropland to Forest and Grassland Program,was launched in 1999,and the LP is one of the pilot regions of this project.The first phase of GFG was implemented between 1999 and 2014,and the second phase started in 2015.The local farmers were accommodated by providing grain and cash subsidies for converting their agriculture land into forests and/or grasslands[2].The GFG program has converted approximately 16,000 km^(2)of rain-fed agriculture land to grassland and forests,resulting in a 25%increase in vegetation cover of the LP during 1999 and 2010[3].展开更多
基金the financial assistance by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Pakistan through the Pakistan Wetlands Programme
文摘This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-resolution satellite images to assess the long term deforestation from 2001 to 2009 and also to identify episodic forest cutting areas appeared during the conflict period of Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008. There are only 58 ha of deforestation identified during the conflict period while 1268 ha of gross annual deforestation were assessed during last eight years. Most of the deforestation patches persist around the administrative boundaries at sub-district levels (tehsils) which can be attributed to ambiguity in unclear jurisdiction between the forest official. The results highlight that the forest cutting appeared in Swat and Shangla during the conflict period is not as significant when compared with the long term deforestation pattern in the area. On the one side the results of the study are supportive to the picture that emerges from international studies which report high rate of deforestation in the country and on the other side it negates any relation between the security situation and the increasing deforestation in the north western Pakistan. The study concludes that deforestation assessments require verification by independent sources of data, such as satellite imagery to improve our understanding of deforestation processes.
基金funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Norway and Swedish International Development Agency(Sida)supported by the United States Agency for International Development(USAID)National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)
文摘Deforestation is a major environmental challenge in the mountain areas of Pakistan. The study assessed trends in the forest cover in Chitral tehsil over the last two decades using supervised land cover classification of Landsat TM satellite images from 1992, 2000, and 2009, with a maximum likelihood algorithm. In 2009, the forest cover was 10.3% of the land area of Chitral(60,000 ha). The deforestation rate increased from 0.14% per annum in 1992–2000 to 0.54% per annum in 2000–2009, with 3,759 ha forest lost over the 17 years. The spatial drivers of deforestation were investigated using a cellular automaton modelling technique to project future forest conditions. Accessibility(elevation, slope), population density, distance to settlements, and distance to administrative boundary were strongly associated with neighbourhood deforestation. A model projection showed a further loss of 23% of existing forest in Chitral tehsil by 2030, and degradation of 8%, if deforestation continues at the present rate. Arandu Union Council, with 2212 households, will lose 85% of its forest. Local communities have limited income resources and high poverty and are heavily dependent on non-timber forest products for their livelihoods. Continued deforestation will further worsen their livelihood conditions, thus improved conservation efforts are essential.
基金supported by the Pioneer Talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971032)the support of the President’s International Fellowship Initiative Program of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences。
文摘The Loess Plateau(LP)is an ecologically fragile region due to its sensitivities to climate variations and anthropogenic influences[1].The Chinese government recognized the ecological significance of the LP and implemented a series of ecological restoration and conservation policies since 1999.Revegetation of degraded ecosystems of the LP is mainly attributed to the environmental protection policies.These policies are led by Grain for Green(GFG)project,supported by some vegetation conservation programs.The GFG project,also known as the Conversion of Cropland to Forest and Grassland Program,was launched in 1999,and the LP is one of the pilot regions of this project.The first phase of GFG was implemented between 1999 and 2014,and the second phase started in 2015.The local farmers were accommodated by providing grain and cash subsidies for converting their agriculture land into forests and/or grasslands[2].The GFG program has converted approximately 16,000 km^(2)of rain-fed agriculture land to grassland and forests,resulting in a 25%increase in vegetation cover of the LP during 1999 and 2010[3].
