To assess the impacts of land use land cover dynamics on the elephant migratory routes of Garo hills conservation area
Student name: Mr Hansraj Gautam
Guide: Dr P K Joshi
Year of completion: 2011
Host Organisation: Wildlife Trust of India
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Sandeep Kumar Tiwari
Abstract: This study attempts to assess through the use of geospatial tools, how changes in LULC pattern affect
elephant movement corridors that connect populations of the few protected areas of Garo Hills of
Meghalaya state in north-east India where forests have been continuously subjected to shifting
cultivation (locally known as jhum). Negative changes in land use land cover (LULC) result in
degradation of forests which may cause decimation of wildlife habitat, affect habitat connectivity and
can isolate important wildlife habitats. To study the effect of this on elephant corridors, first
supervised classification of satellite data was done for 1991, 2001 and 2010. Change analysis
showed that forest dynamics have increased as the total area under no change has decreased. Results
show a serious decline in the forest cover in the period 1991-2001 but less deforestation in 2001-
2010. The total area under jhum cultivation is declining which is again a welcome change but it is
observed that total area under abandoned jhum/regenerating forests is increasing at a steady rate. A
careful observation of dynamics of classes belonging to shifting cultivation cycle indicates probable
shortening of the jhum cycle.
Secondly, to assess the effect of the LULC change on elephant corridors, LULC along with other
abiotic and biotic factors and anthropogenic disturbances was used to model the potential corridors
between main elephant habitats for respective years. Mapping of elephant corridors was done using
the least cost pathway algorithm. Eleven such corridors were identified in 1991 whereas; this number
was seven and eight for 2001 and 2010 respectively. Many corridors are threatened because of forest
fragmentation arising mainly due to jhum cultivation and urbanization near towns. There is a need to
ground-truth elephant movement along these corridors and take suitable conservation measures to
maintain the habitat connectivity.
Key Words: Garo Hills, land use land cover change, shifting cultivation, elephant
corridors, least cost pathway algorithm
