Fig- 3 
44 
3.3.1 Encroachment Monitoring 
Reserved forests are always prone to encroachment 
by the locals. To monitor the extent of forest loss & 
reserved area boundary, satellite images are useful by 
providing regular and repetitive information. Thus it acts 
as a legal tool for the control of encroachment and forest 
loss. Space Application Centre has demonstrated this in 
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Maharastra). However, 
operational needs demand mapping ability on 1:10,000 
or larger with better than 10 m positional accuracy. 
4. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 
PLANNING 
Inclia is identified as one of the important 
biodiversity pool known for their genetic, economic and 
economic prudence. Conservation of biodiversity 
requires static approach of management of the habitats. 
The detailed survey is required to inventory the existing 
bioresources, identify constraints on the ecosystems. 
These information can be used to define appropriate 
legislation and protection of marine resources, parks, 
sanctuaries, forests, wetlands and coral reefs. Remote 
sensing techniques are useful in locating different types 
of bioresources to identify appropriate corridors 
surrounding natural habitats and protect them from 
human intervention and other harmful influences, which 
endanger the existence of these habitats. 
Ecologists generally classify biodiversity under 
three categories, which represent the biodiversity 
function associated with landscape features, already 
identified inventory, differentiation diversity and pattern 
diversity. Spatial, temporal and composition patterns and 
their interrelationships, can be derived from 
identification and analysis of landscape units using 
remote sensing techniques. Using different landscape 
ecological parameters along with restricted ground 
observation biologically rich areas, hot spots, warm 
spots, hot specks, can be identified for conservation 
prioritisation. A project is presently undertaken by the 
Department of Space and Department of Biotechnology 
at national level to prioritise the biologically rich areas 
in the three mega-diversity sites of India. The conceptual 
hypothesis and the approach are provided in Fig. 3 & 4 
respectively. Biologically rich areas & Disturbance 
index maps will be prepared in three important 
biologically rich sites viz., north-eastern region, western 
Ghats and north west Himalayas. The database will 
definitely form the basis for biodiversity conservation 
and prioritise the sites for more intensive investigation. 
The database will facilitate to formulate legislative 
measures for conservation. 
REMOTE SENSING FOR BIODIVERSITY CHARACTERISATION AT 
LANDSCAPE LEVEL 
° HABITAT 
° DISTURBANCE 
0 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLEXITY 
TERRAIN 
CLIMATE 
•Rainfall 
•Temperature 
LANDSCAPE 
ECOLOGY 
•Patch characteristics 
•Human Intervention 
VEGETATION / ECOSYSTEM 
MAPPING 
( Remote Sensing ) 
+ 
( Ground Truth ) 
+ 
( Existing Vegetation Maps ) 
BIODIVERSITY 
PRIORITY ZONE