Land Change in Tirthan Valley: The Case of Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area

A significant increase in forest cover, rocky/barren land, agriculture/horticulture land, and settlement/built-up areas has been observed in the Tirthan Valley, part of the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA), over the past five decades. Conversely, there has been a notable decrease in pasture/open land, snow cover, and river/water bodies. This study, utilizing multi-temporal LANDSAT satellite images, reveals substantial land use and land cover changes post-protected area status, raising concerns about the sustainability of both natural and man-made ecosystems in the region.

Irfan, M. (2023). Land Change in Tirthan Valley: The Case of Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area. Journal of Human Ecology, 83(1-3). https://doi.org/10.31901/24566608.2023/83.1-3.3355