Multi-faceted analysis of land use impact on rangeland health: Insights from normalized difference vegetation index assessment in stream, road, and mining areas

Abstract

This study provides an in-depth analysis of specific land use areas within a semi-arid rangeland region by utilizing the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The stream areas, local roads, main roads, and rock mining areas were subjected to NDVI analysis, revealing distinct vegetation health patterns. The stream areas, encompassing a 10-meter buffer, exhibited NDVI values ranging from 0.0098 to 0.447, covering 0.3% of the total study area. NDVI values for local roads (5 m buffer) ranged from 0.07 to 0.438, while main roads (10 m buffer) showed values between 0.017 and 0.172. In the rock mining areas, NDVI values varied at 10-meter and 20-meter buffer distances, with a polygon region indicating values from 0.012 to 0.276. The findings underscore the impact of specific land use practices on rangeland health and advocate for integrating NDVI techniques in monitoring and decision-making processes. The study also emphasizes the importance of selective management strategies to preserve healthy rangeland areas and mitigate the negative effects of degradation drivers, such as population density, grazing intensity, deforestation, unmanaged mining, and unplanned road networks. These insights contribute to of developing sustainable land use practices and ecological resilience in semi-arid rangeland ecosystems.