Climate Change Impacts on Vegetation and Water Availability: A Remote Sensing Analysis of Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of natural resources, especially in the face of climate change, is critical for sustainable management. Traditional methods of monitoring and assessment, though essential, are often time-consuming and limited in spatial coverage. Remote sensing techniques, coupled with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), offer efficient and accurate solutions. This study leverages satellite imagery from 1998, 2008, and 2018 to assess land cover change and vegetation health in Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park (HCNP). By employing indices such as NDVI, SAVI, MSAVI, and MSI, we quantified changes in vegetation cover and water availability. Our analysis revealed significant land cover transformations within HCNP. Vegetation cover declined substantially, from 1380.047 ha in 1998 to 656.7827 ha in 2018. Conversely, barren land increased from 2784.229 ha in 1998 to 3511.11 ha in 2018. Water bodies also diminished, shrinking from 2.465488 ha to 0.55492 ha over the study period. The calculated vegetation indices further corroborated these findings. NDVI, SAVI, and MSAVI indicated a decline in vegetation health, while MSI highlighted increased moisture stress in 2018. These results underscore the pressing need for effective conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on HCNP.