Documenting the land use pattern in the corridor complexes of Kaziranga National Park using high resolution satellite imagery

Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Assam, India, faces growing threats to its ecosystem due to increasing human and wildlife populations, as well as development pressures. A study using high-resolution satellite imagery from 2002 and 2013, alongside extensive field surveys including camera traps and GPS tracking, revealed that the corridor complexes—critical pathways for wildlife movement—are increasingly fragmented by anthropogenic activities. These corridors, shared by both humans and animals, are under severe pressure, particularly near NH-37, where developmental activities have rendered some routes nearly non-functional. The research highlights the urgent need for sustainable land-use planning to balance human needs with wildlife conservation in these vital buffer zones.

Areendran, G., Raj, K., Sharma, A., Bora, P. J., Sarmah, A., Sahana, M., & Ranjan, K. (2020). Documenting the land use pattern in the corridor complexes of Kaziranga National Park using high resolution satellite imagery. Trees, Forests and People, 2, 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2020.100039