Land Use and Land Cover Change Monitoring and Prediction of a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone Using Cellular Automata-Markov Model

A significant decline in natural habitats within the Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone has been documented over 30 years (1990–2020), with waterbodies, grasslands, and agricultural lands decreasing by 18.4%, 9.96%, and 64.88% respectively, while built-up areas and sand/dry river beds increased dramatically. Projections suggest continued habitat loss by 2050, unless interventions are implemented. The study used remote sensing data and Cellular Automata-Markov models to analyze land use and land cover (LULC) changes, revealing critical insights for the long-term conservation of this biodiversity hotspot.

Nath, N., Sahariah, D., Meraj, G., Debnath, J., Kumar, P., Lahon, D., Chand, K., Farooq, M., Chandan, P., Singh, S. K., & Kanga, S. (2023). Land Use and Land Cover Change Monitoring and Prediction of a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga Eco-Sensitive Zone Using Cellular Automata-Markov Model. Land, 12(1), 151. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010151