Monitoring of LULC Changes and Forest Loss Using Geospatial Technique: A Case Study from Northern Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Monitoring changes in land use and land cover (LULC) is essential for determining the state of the environment. This study is an attempt to assessing changes in LULC patterns and forest cover at northern region (Dinajpur district) of Bangladesh for the periods 1989–1999, 1999–2010, 2010–2020 and 1989-2020. Landsat satellite images were applied and supervised classification was done. There is a noticeable change found in LULC classes (Built-up, crop/fallow, forest, homestead and water). The built-up and homestead increased by 210.36% and 134.71%; whereas the crop/fallow, forest, and water decreased by 12.27%, 74.99% and 39.77%, respectively between 1989 to 2020. Forest was narrowed as majority of forest land transferred to homestead (8089.02ha) and crop/fallow (5965.74ha) land in last three decades (1989-2020). The findings of the study help in important policy implications for the sustainable LULC management in Dinajpur region of Bangladesh.