Peer Reviewed Open Access

This paper is reviewed in accordance with the Peer Review Program of IRA Academico Research

Assessment and Mapping of Land Cover/Use Aided by Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques in Elnour Natural Forest, Blue Nile State, Sudan

Abass Mohamed Elhag Hamed, Motasim Hyder Abdelwahab, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, El Mamoun Haroun Osman
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jas.v17.n4.p2
Abstract
The main aim of this study was to assess and mapping of land cover (LC) / land use (LU), using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques in Elnor natural forest reserve, Blue Nile state, Sudan. The study also attempted to update some information in the study area such as LC and contour map by using different methods of data transformation and analysis such as Normalized Different Vegetation Index (NDVI), interpolation and supervised classification. Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) and Landsat8 images were used in LCLU changes and supported by field observation. The study area was affected by cutting the mother trees and overgrazing. Closed forests during 2000, 2010 and 2019 decreased from   36.9%, 28.5% and 18.7% respectively. Moreover, the total area of bare soil increased by about 14.4%, 47.2% and 39.7% in 2000, 2010 and 2019 respectively. The open forest (grassland) decreased from 48.7% in (2000) to 41.7% in (2019). A Digital land cover map was produced using LCCS software; depending on the fieldwork data, they were found in four Classes. Mixed Woodland Single Layer, Semi-Deciduous Shrub land with Open Herbaceous, Open Grassland, Single XII Layer and Hardpans.  The study revealed that there are some indicators of land degradation during the last 20 years (2000, 2010 and 2019) and is expected to continue increasing unless serious measures are carried out to reduce it.
Keywords
Land cover/land use evaluations, NDVI, wood cutting, overgrazing, deforestation, LCCS, Remote Sensing and GIS
Full Text:
PDF
References

Abdelwahab, M.H Mohammed Ali, E.D, and Mustafa, M.A. (2014). Assessment of wind erosion using remote sensing techniques in Atbara Area, River Nile State, Sudan. Sudan Journal of Desertification Research 6:1-14.

Abuzied, H. MA; Hamid, A.A. and Mustafa, M. A. (2017). Assessment of wind erosion in Central Part of the Northern State, Sudan. Sudan J. Des. Res. 7(1): 29-41.

Adam, A.H, Elhag, A.M. Salih, A. and Adam, S.M. (2014). Land degradation Assessment in the Rawashda area, Gedaref State, Sudan using remote sensing, GIS and soil techniques. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Vol. 4(2): 1-9.

Ali, H. O. Almalik, E. M. Augusseau, X. and Eljack, E. A. (2012). Assessment and mapping of soil degradation at gadambalyia schemes, Elgedaref State, Sudan. Sudan J. Des. Res.4(1):95-110.

Biro, K. B. Pradhan, M. Buchroithner and F. Makeschin. (2013). Land use/land cover change analysis and its impact on soil properties in the northern part of Gadaref region, Sudan. Land Degradation and Development 24: 90–102.

Canham, C.D., Denslow, J.S., Platt, W.J., Runkle, J.R., Spies, T.A., and White, P.S. (1990). Light regimes beneath closed canopies and treefall gaps in temperate and tropical forests. Can. J. For. Res. 20: 620631.

Di Gregorio, A. and Jansen, L.J.M. (2000). Land Cover Classification System (LCCS). Classification Concepts and User Manual. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome, Italy. 80p and 99p of appendices.

Elhag, H. A (2007). Assessment of threat of sand encroachment in Gezira and Managil agricultural scheme, Sudan, Postgraduate Diploma(PGD), African Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTEE), Obafemi Awolowo University Campus (OAU), ILE –IFE.

Elhaja, M.E., Elhag, M.M., Adam, H.E., Khalifa, A.S. and Fadlelkerim, I.A. (2017). Assessment and mapping of desertification using remote sensing and GIS techniques in Khor Abu Habil area, Northern Kordofan State, Sudan. Sudan J. Des. Res. 9(1): 1-13.

Fadl, K.M.; Abdalwahid, A.A. and Abutaba, Y. M. (2014). Impact of drought and desertification on land use in Northern Kordofan State, Sudan. Sudan J. Des. Res. 6(1): 15-27.

FAO (2010). Global forest resources assessment 2010—country report, Ethiopia.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, Italy.

www.fao.org/forestry/fra/fra2010/en/.

Francis, A. P., and D. J. Currie. (2003). A globally consistent richness climate relationship for angiosperms. American Naturalist 161:523–536.

Hassan, E., (2010). Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Germany.

Hawkins, B. A., E. E. Porter, and J. A. F. Diniz-Filho. (2003). Productivity and history as predictors of the latitudinal diversity gradient for terrestrial birds. Ecology 84:1608–1623.

Jennings, SB., Brown, N.D., and Sheil, D. (1999). Assessing forest canopies and understory illumination: canopy closure, canopy cover and other measures. Forestry 7 2(1): 5974.

Kreft, H. And Jetz, W.(2007). Global patterns and determinants of vascular plant diversity. Proc.Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104,59255930. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608361104

Mishra, K.A., Singh, V.P. (2003). Analysis of Drought severity–area–frequency curves using a general circulation model and scenario uncertainty. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, volume 114 m. Issue D6.

Mohammedzain, M.A., Elmobarak, A.A., Eltayb, A. and Elkhalil, S.A. (2015). Mapping and assessment of sand dunes by remote sensing and GIS techniques in Sufia Project Area, White Nile State, Sudan. Sudan J. Des. Res. 7(1): 1-12.

O'Brien, E. M. (1998). Water energy dynamics, climate, and prediction of woody plant species richness: an interim general model. J. Biogeogr.25,

doi:10.1046/j.13652699.1998.252166.x

Singh, R., Sahoo, P., Rai, A. (2003). Use of Remote Sensing and GIS Technology in agricultural surveys from: http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/agriculture/cropping/mio368.htm

Singh, A., (1989). Digital change detection techniques using remotely-sensed data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 10 (6): 989-1003.


©IRA Academico Research & its authors
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. This article can be used for non-commercial purposes. Mentioning of the publication source is mandatory while referring this article in any future works.