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Use of GIS and Remote Sensing Data to Understand the Impacts of Land Use/Land Cover Changes (LULCC) on Snow Leopard ( Panthera uncia ) Habitat in Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Tauheed Ullah Khan

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    Department of Zoology, Kohat University, Kohat 26170, Pakistan)

  • Abdul Mannan

    (Department of Forestry, Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan 15100, Pakistan)

  • Charlotte E. Hacker

    (Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA)

  • Shahid Ahmad

    (Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, China)

  • Muhammad Amir Siddique

    (School of Landscape Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300384, China)

  • Barkat Ullah Khan

    (Ministry of Climate Change Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Emad Ud Din

    (College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Minhao Chen

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Chao Zhang

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Moazzam Nizami

    (Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, Haripur 26100, Pakistan)

  • Xiaofeng Luan

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

Habitat degradation and species range contraction due to land use/land cover changes (LULCC) is a major threat to global biodiversity. The ever-growing human population has trespassed deep into the natural habitat of many species via the expansion of agricultural lands and infrastructural development. Carnivore species are particularly at risk, as they demand conserved and well-connected habitat with minimum to no anthropogenic disturbance. In Pakistan, the snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) is found in three mountain ranges—the Himalayas, Hindukush, and Karakoram. Despite this being one of the harshest environments on the planet, a large population of humans reside here and exploit surrounding natural resources to meet their needs. Keeping in view this exponentially growing population and its potential impacts on at-risk species like the snow leopard, we used geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing with the aim of identifying and quantifying LULCC across snow leopard range in Pakistan for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. A massive expansion of 1804.13 km 2 (163%) was observed in the built-up area during the study period. Similarly, an increase of 3177.74 km 2 (153%) was observed in agricultural land. Barren mountain land increased by 12,368.39 km 2 (28%) while forest land decreased by 2478.43 km 2 (28%) and area with snow cover decreased by 14,799.83 km 2 (52%). Drivers of these large-scale changes are likely the expanding human population and climate change. The overall quality and quantity of snow leopard habitat in Pakistan has drastically changed in the last 20 years and could be compromised. Swift and direct conservation actions to monitor LULCC are recommended to reduce any associated negative impacts on species preservation efforts. In the future, a series of extensive field surveys and studies should be carried out to monitor key drivers of LULCC across the observed area.

Suggested Citation

  • Tauheed Ullah Khan & Abdul Mannan & Charlotte E. Hacker & Shahid Ahmad & Muhammad Amir Siddique & Barkat Ullah Khan & Emad Ud Din & Minhao Chen & Chao Zhang & Moazzam Nizami & Xiaofeng Luan, 2021. "Use of GIS and Remote Sensing Data to Understand the Impacts of Land Use/Land Cover Changes (LULCC) on Snow Leopard ( Panthera uncia ) Habitat in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3590-:d:523643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Abdul Mannan & Fan Yongxiang & Tauheed Ullah Khan & Syed Moazzam Nizami & Beckline Mukete & Adnan Ahmad & Ummay Amara & Jincheng Liu & Mamoona Wali Muhammad, 2021. "Urban Growth Patterns and Forest Carbon Dynamics in the Metropolitan Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Muhammad Amir Siddique & Fan Boqing & Liu Dongyun, 2023. "Modeling the Impact and Risk Assessment of Urbanization on Urban Heat Island and Thermal Comfort Level of Beijing City, China (2005–2020)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Nadeem Ullah & Muhammad Amir Siddique & Mengyue Ding & Sara Grigoryan & Irshad Ahmad Khan & Zhihao Kang & Shangen Tsou & Tianlin Zhang & Yike Hu & Yazhuo Zhang, 2023. "The Impact of Urbanization on Urban Heat Island: Predictive Approach Using Google Earth Engine and CA-Markov Modelling (2005–2050) of Tianjin City, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Motuma Shiferaw Regasa & Michael Nones, 2022. "Past and Future Land Use/Land Cover Changes in the Ethiopian Fincha Sub-Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, August.

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