Mining Belt at the Brink: NDVI-Based Assessment of Forest Canopy Loss and Socio-Ecological Exposure in Odisha (2020–2024)

This study evaluates forest-canopy loss and associated socio-ecological exposure across seven mining-belt districts of Odisha—Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jajpur, Koraput, Bolangir, Bargarh, and Khurda—using district-level indicators supported by satellite-based NDVI change detection (Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, 2020–2024). Nearly half of the total canopy loss is concentrated in Keonjhar (4,700 ha) and Sundargarh (4,200 ha), with Jajpur (3,100 ha) forming a significant secondary hotspot. These three districts also register some of the highest FRA overlaps (30 %, 28 %, and 22 %), together with the greatest numbers of settlements affected and notable elephant-corridor overlaps (12 %, 18 %, and 5 %). Irrigation-related exposure peaks in Sundargarh (5,200 ha) and Keonjhar (4,500 ha), with a secondary maximum in Bargarh (3,000 ha) despite its comparatively low canopy loss. A normalized multi-indicator heatmap and a hotspot-style canopy-loss figure reveal strong spatial concentration of both ecological and social vulnerabilities, highlighting Keonjhar, Sundargarh, and Jajpur as priority districts for enforcement, restoration, and rights-based planning. These findings demonstrate how integrating remote-sensing tools with socio-ecological overlays can provide actionable evidence for sustainable resource governance in Odisha’s mineral heartland.