Assessment of Forest Covers Change in Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest in Thakurgaon, Bangladesh Using ALOS Data( Multipurpose Forest Management)

Abstract

The pLirpose of this study was to outline the present pattern of forest cever and change in Thakurgaon, northern Bangladesh. Forest cover changes were identified and approximately delineated by re]note sensing. Remote sensing teclmologies are used to monitor forests ill many parts of the world. '['he availability of extensive and timely imag'ery from various satellite sensors can aid in identifying ferest area and the rates and patterns of deforestation. "ie conducted u comprehensive assessnient or lorest cover changes in Thakurgaon from 2(K)6 to ZX)8 using jmagery from the Advanced Land-Obseiving. Satellite (ALOS). Bangladesh is poor in forest re-seurccs, with approximately 14g6 forest eover in the a]untry as a whole and only about 3g6 cover in the Thakur-gaon area. Rapid population expansion has resulted in increased wood consumption aiid resource oyerexploitati-on that have degraded forest reserves. Near mqjor population centers, large ai'eas have been rapidly cx)nverted frerT] forested to non-forested land. The most evident cause of forest loss is conversion of forest to aghculture, for both food and cash crop plantations. By analysis ef ALOS imagery, we could clearly {dentify changes. The results can help foresters identify endangered areas and prioritize managanent. We found marked increases {n forest area in places protected by local geveniments o]' private forest owners. Some cultjyab]e land areas were converted into ferest and open forest land, although these resu]ts muy have been affected by doud cover in the satellite image-r3t･