Forest Fragmentation of Arunachal Pradesh, India from 2000-2020

It has been observed that in the last two decades from 2000 to 2020 an area of 1571.22 km² (1.88%) has been lost due to deforestation. Although there was increase in the dense forest with an area of 6858.43 km² (8.19%), the moderately dense forest was worst affected and degraded with a loss of 9347.50 km² (11.16%) and the open forest was increased by 917.85 km² (1.10%). The major changes took place in the conversion of moderate forests into agricultural lands and settlements. Most of the metrics used in forest fragmentation analysis identified certain differences whereas number of patches (NP) and mean patch size (MPS) indicated that forests have been decreased to a major extent during the years 2000-2020, fragmented and patches are far located from each other. Different landscape metrics identified by these approaches suggest that deforestation was being closely associated with forest fragmentation and socio-economic activities like agricultural lands and settlements. The results can be utilized as an important monitoring tool to identify the fragmented landscape pattern, analyse conservation success and enhance management decisions.

据观测，2000至2020年的二十年间，共有1571.22平方千米（占比1.88%）的林地因森林砍伐而丧失。尽管密林面积增加了6858.43平方千米（占比8.19%），但受影响最严重的是中密度林：其面积退化减少了9347.50平方千米（占比11.16%），而疏林面积则增加了917.85平方千米（占比1.10%）。林地变化的主要类型为中密度林向农用地与聚居用地的转化。多数森林破碎化分析所用的景观指数均呈现出一定差异，而斑块数量（number of patches, NP）与平均斑块面积（mean patch size, MPS）则表明，2000至2020年间林地总面积大幅缩减，林地表征愈发破碎，斑块间间距显著增大。上述分析得到的各类景观指数均表明，森林砍伐与森林破碎化及农用地、聚居用地等社会经济活动存在紧密关联。本研究结果可作为重要的监测工具，用于识别破碎化景观格局、评估保护成效并优化管理决策。