This study examines changes in forest cover within the Tikri Reserved Forest area, located in the eastern part of Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. Data from Landsat-7 and Landsat-8 satellites, obtained from the USGS, were analyzed through Supervised Image Classification and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess changes in forest cover and vegetation health from 2010 to 2020. The analysis reveals a reduction in forest area by 670 hectares over the decade (2010-2020) and a decline in vegetation health, as indicated by decreasing NDVI values. The highest NDVI value in 2010 was 0.59 which reduced to 0.45 in 2020. These changes are attributed to illegal logging activities, often facilitated by corrupt practices among forest officials, and the overexploitation of forest resources to meet local demands. To mitigate further degradation and enhance forest health, the study advocates for stricter enforcement of conservation laws and more effective forest management practices.

Tikri Reserved Forest Remote Sensing GIS Forest Cover Change Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) LULC None

Forests are essential to human civilization, providing fundamental resources such as food, clothing, and shelter. Historically, humans have interacted with nature, shaping it in both positive and negative ways. As populations grew, the increased demand for resources led to the over-exploitation of forests and other natural resources, creating imbalances in ecosystems 1. Initially, human activities were relatively balanced, as resources were used sustainably to meet immediate needs with preserving them substantially for future generations. However, contemporary practices prioritize profit over sustainability, resulting in significant environmental degradation and threatening future generations 2.

The interaction between humans and nature is complex, encompassing both beneficial and detrimental impacts. In ancient societies, while humans did alter their environment, they also engaged in practices that allowed for natural regeneration. This balance has been disrupted in modern times by extensive exploitation driven by economic motives. 1, 2.

Monitoring and evaluating changes in land use and land cover (LULC) is critical for sustainable resource management. Advances in satellite imagery, such as Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) and Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS, have revolutionized the study and monitoring of various earth surface phenomena, including forest degradation and aggradation 3. Satellite imageries offer high spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution, enabling precise analysis of environmental changes.

LULC analysis is a powerful tool for studying changes on earth’s surface. It relies on satellite imagery to track changes over time. Land cover refers to the physical materials on the surface of the earth such as vegetation, water bodies, and bare soil, while land use pertains to the purpose for which the land is utilized, such as agriculture or recreation 4.

In the context of forest management, the Indian Forest Act of 1927 defines Reserved Forests as areas designated by the State Government with restricted access, where local people are prohibited from entering unless authorized by a Forest Officer. This study focuses on the Tikri Reserved Forest area, which has not been extensively studied for over a century, except for historical records like the ‘Gonda: A Gazetteer’ from 1905.

Although there has been research on botanical aspects of forests, such as the floristic assessment by Singh et al. in 2016 5, there is a notable gap in the literature concerning forest cover assessment in the Tikri Reserved Forest. To address this gap, this study aims to quantify the changes in forest cover over the decade of 2010 to 2020. This study seeks to evaluate how the area of the Tikri Reserved Forest has altered from 2010 to 2020, determining whether there has been an increase or decrease in forest cover. Additionally, it aims to analyze changes in vegetation density using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), providing insights into the health and vitality of the forest’s vegetation over this period.