Land Cover Change and Habitat Fragmentation in Protected Landscape Areas: Analyzing the Impact of Ecological Management on Environmental Sustainability and Species Diversity

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation due to land cover change is a major threat to biodiversity conservation in protected areas. It therefore becomes important to study the role of the main drivers of habitat fragmentationclimate change, human action and natural disturbancesand the efficacy of ecological management in mitigating these. With the help of GIS (geographical information system) and field surveys, the study tracks land cover dynamics through projected changes in vegetation types, soil erosion and shifts in flora and fauna in five major ecological zones: the Amazon rainforest, Sahara desert, Great Plains of North America, Gobi Desert and the Himalayas. Climate variability and human intervention are found to be the most disruptive factors for habitat integrity, leading to biodiversity loss and population isolation. Adaptive management practices like reforestation, wildlife corridors and pro-environmental land-use policies are seen as having a positive impact on increasing connectivity, maintaining genetic diversity and ensuring ecological resilience. Tailored management actions for the buffer zones in protected areas are also seen as essential for ecological stability and preserving species interactions. The paper presents a useful set of actionable measures for conservation, ensuring an economically-driven ecological approach that focuses on preserving biodiversity through ecosystem-specific, adaptive management.