INTERPRETATION OF LAND COVER CHANGES USING GIS / RS & ITS IMPLICATION FOR MANAGEMENT OF MARGALLAH HILLS NATIONAL PARK, ISLAMABAD

Abstract

A national park is comparatively large area of outstanding scenic merit and natural interest with the primary objective of protection and preservation of flora and fauna in natural state to which access for public, education and research may be allowed. This research investigates the spatio-temporal changes of land cover/land use especially vegetation cover of Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP), Islamabad during 1997-2008. The management zoning of the national park is one of the prime objective of the study which is necessary for the effective management of the park. In order to carry out this study, SPOT-5 images of three different time periods i.e. 1997, 2003 and 2008 were used, which have been classified using maximum likelihood classification into dense shrubs, less dense shrubs, cropland/ grassland, built-up area, bare surface and water body classes. The NDVI was applied to determine the change in vegetation cover during last one decade in the national park (NP). Ground control points (GCPs) were taken with a global positioning system (GPS) during the field visits and then plotted on SPOT image to correctly identify the presence of invasive species. The results show that about 2.5% area of the NP is occupied by Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) and 9.4% by Punch phuli (Lantana camara). Major environmental and other factors used for the management zoning of national park were slope, land use, elevation, distance from community, roads, river/streams and spatial distribution of invasive species. These factors were ranked and weights were assigned according to their importance for this national park. The study area was classified into three management zones after the weighted overlay analysis namely; service zone, primitive zone, and recovery zone. As a result of calculation, area for the service zone, primitive zone, and recovery zone, is nearly 14.3%, 11.0%, 34.4%, respectively. The results can be used as an input for the effective management of the park in order to preserve the natural resources and to ensure a sustainable ecology. Management zoning can also used as guide lines and suggestions for where an activity shall be located in future. For example when the park officers want to enlarge the recreational area, they would consider the area of high suitability for this class as the first priority, so that critical areas of the NP are least disturbed.