SUSTAINING FOREST ECOSYSTEM FOR ENHANCING CLIMATE STABILITY USING RS AND GIS

Abstract

Forest conservation for sustainable ecosystem services, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and the continuous supply of goods and services is a key concern for planners, policymakers, and regulatory institutions. Afforestation or artificial plantation is considered an essential strategic solution. When it comes to environmental protection and ecosystem services. However, the sustainable management of these forest ecosystems remains at risk due to a lack of pre-planning and management strategies. The research study focuses on monitoring and analyzing spatio-temporal changes in vegetation cover and regional climate patterns, and soil assessment in response to the implementation of the conservation plan in the Khipro forest, a desert region. The objective of this study is to identify the key drivers of degradation and an implementation plan for forest conservation and improvement of soil fertility and health in a desert region for crop production. The results analyzed for forest cover change over time indicate control over forest degradation after a significant loss of vegetation cover by the end of 2025. Improved vegetation cover resulted in stable regional climate conditions and enhanced soil enrichment. Results for Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in correlation with soil enrichment indicate a positive correlation with Soil Organic Carbon (SOC). The correlation supports the research findings that soil health has improved over time by controlling key drivers of land use that degrade soil fertility and crop production.