Journal of Environmental Biology

Application of remote sensing and geographical information system in mapping         forest fire risk zone at Bhadra wildlife sanctuary, India

 

S.V. Sowmya and R.K. Somashekar*

 

Department of Environmental Science, Bangalore University, Bangalore - 560 056, India

 

(Received: September 10, 2009; Revised received: February 24, 2010; Accepted: February 26, 2010)

 

Abstract: Fire is the most spectacular natural disturbance that affects the forest ecosystem composition and diversity. Fire has a devastating effect on the landscape and its impact is felt at every level of the ecosystem and it is possible to map forest fire risk zone and thereby minimize the frequency of fire. There is a need for supranational approaches that analyze wide scenarios of factors involved and global fire effects. Fires can be monitored and analyzed over large areas in a timely and cost effective manner by using satellite imagery. Also Geographical Information System (GIS) can be used effectively to demarcate the fire risk zone map. Bhadra wildlife Sanctuary located in Karnataka, India was selected for this study. Vegetation, slope, distance from roads, settlements parameters were derived for a study area using topographic maps and field information. The Remote Sensing (RS) and  Geographical  Information System (GIS)-based forest fire risk model of the study area appeared to be highly compatible with the actual fire-affected sites. The temporal satellite data from 1989 to 2006 have been analyzed to map the burnt areas. These classes were weighted according to their influence on forest fire. Four categories of fire risk regions such as Low, Moderate, High and Very high fire intensity zones were identified.  It is predicted that around 10.31% of the area falls under moderate risk zone.

Key words: Forest fire, Risk zone, Weightage, Remote sensing, Wildlife sanctuary

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