Monitoring the Chilla–Motichur wildlife corridor using geospatial tools

SummaryThe present study attempts to assess the Chilla–Motichur wildlife corridor of Rajaji National Park in the Uttaranchal State of India using temporal satellite imagery from the years 1972, 1990, and 2005. The on-screen visual interpretation of three-period imagery followed by change matrix analysis revealed considerable corridor loss between 1972 and 2005 (17.56 km2). The loss was more pronounced between 1972 and 1990 (11.18 km2) than between 1990 and 2005 (6.38 km2). The loss of the corridor was attributed to various developmental projects, such as: roads; rail; hydropower canal; the expansion of townships of Hardwar and Rishikesh; the resettlement of people displaced by the construction of the Tehri dam; and creation of the army cantonment. This study highlights the conservation concerns relating to the depletion of the corridor with the passage of time. The study also demonstrated the unique potential of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in corridor status assessment and monitoring.