Resource information
The study is focused on RS and GIS based assessment of forest encroachment in Shimoga district of Karnataka for the years 1990, 2000 and 2010 using Landsat TM/MSS/ETM+ for 1990 and 2000, mid south western part of malnad region of Karnataka state, geographically lies between 13°27' and 14°39' N latitudes and 74°38' and 76°4'E longitudes.
It covers an area of 8,482.32 km2 apart of western ghats areas (Sahayadrihill ranges), the densely forested high hilly Malnad in the west and sparsely forested tablelands semi-malnad in the east of Karnataka state with a forest area constituting 32.66% of the total geographical area of the district.
The study revealed that the encroachment in reserve forest area accounts for 282.92 km2 , 257.27 km2 and 192.43 km2 for the year 2010, 2000 and 1990 respectively
