Reserved forests play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem regulation, and the provision of ecosystem services, while also offering opportunities for sustainable, nature-based tourism. This study assesses the spatial pattern of vegetation cover and evaluates the tourism potential of Kakoijana Reserved Forest, located in Bongaigaon district of Assam, using geospatial techniques. Vegetation cover dynamics were analyzed through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from satellite data for the years 2013 and 2023. NDVI values were classified into no vegetation, low vegetation, and high vegetation categories to examine spatio-temporal changes in forest condition. The results reveal a positive shift in vegetation health over the decade, marked by a reduction in non-vegetated and low-vegetation areas and a significant increase in high-vegetation cover. This improvement indicates enhanced forest regeneration, increased biomass, and improved ecological health, likely supported by conservation efforts and reduced anthropogenic pressure. In addition, the study evaluates the current tourism status and future potential of Kakoijana Reserved Forest. The forest is internationally recognized as a key habitat for the endangered Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei), along with several other rare and threatened species, making it an emerging eco-tourism destination in western Assam. Existing tourism activities are well-managed and non-exploitative, with active community participation and basic infrastructure support. The findings suggest that Kakoijana Reserved Forest holds substantial potential for sustainable and community-based eco-tourism, which can simultaneously support biodiversity conservation and local livelihood development. An integrated approach to vegetation assessment and tourism planning is essential to ensure long-term ecological sustainability and responsible tourism growth.
Ahmed et al. (Thu,) studied this question.