Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover Change in Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir

The human interference and modification of landscape has occurred globally but has increased incidence and consequences in the developing countries mostly due the population growth, fragility of landscape and unplanned development. The aim of the study is to detect the land use changes between 1990-2010 using satellite images of IRS-IC LISS-III (2010) and LANDSAT TM (1990) and SOI topographic maps. During the 20 years all the three sites have shown major land use changes. Among these, site I has undergone positive changes into Cropland 46 ha (14.64%), Horticulture land 12 ha (3.82%), Built-up 2 ha (0.63%) while, the areas of site II has shown an alarming decrease in pasture land with 7 ha (2.22%), Sparse forest land 12 ha (3.82%). However, the site III has shown a remarkable decrease in the area of Dense forest land 56 ha (17.82%), water bodies 5 ha (1.59%) as well as depicts marked increase in the area of Scrub land 136 ha (43.31%), Pasture land 65 ha (20.70%). These changes have clearly established that the Hirpura wildlife sanctuary is under an imminent threat to its very existence. Thus, it becomes imperative that the government should prepare working plans for its conservation which has not taken yet.