PJB-2010-414
A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSING DECLINE IN FOREST COVER AREA IN DISTRICT CHAKWAL, PAKISTAN
SHEIKH SAEED AHMAD*, ANUSHA SHERAZI AND MUHAMMAD TAHIR ALI SHAH
Abstract
The analysis of species density and species distribution based on the analysis of land cover characteristics is an important aspect in the process of understanding forest ecology. Therefore in the present study a GIS based approach was followed to produce different scale vegetation maps for a study area in district Chakwal. The prime forest areas in district Chakwal were identified for the study by integrating the areas of land cover change derived for the change in climate in the years 2005-6 and 2009-10 by the use of GIS mapping. Results show that the minimum temperature of the district increased from 9.4oC to 9.9oC during the period of 2005-06 to 2009-10, and the maximum temperature increased from 33.8oC to 35oC. The humidity changed from 69.1% to 70.3% followed by the rainfall decrease from 872mm to 557mm. These distinguished changes in the climate caused the decline in the forest area of the region. The total forest area was found to be around 698Km2 in the year 2005-06, which declined to about 625 Km2 in 2009-10. The study further demonstrates the utility of GIS technique for the assessment of land cover change areas particularly in the regions where significant climate change conditions are occurring and forests are being lost.
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