Journal of Natural Environment

Investigating the impact of climate change on wildlife habitats using GIS remote sensing (study area: Khabar national park, Kerman province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Planning, Management and Education, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Head of Wildlife Protection and Management Department, General Department of Environment of Kerman province, Kerman, Iran.

3 Expert of the Department of Habitat Management and Regional Affairs, General Department of Environment of Kerman Province, Kerman, Iran.

4 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Islamic Azad University, Faculty of Science and Research, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/jne.2023.365259.2600

Abstract

The distribution of organisms and ecosystems is affected by climate change, in fact, climate change has affected the distribution patterns of a large number of species and even led to displacement, extinction of certain species, destruction and loss of habitats. In this regard, remote sensing technology, due to having a spatial and integrated view of the region, as well as geographic information systems (GIS) due to the ability to analyze and analyze, prepare maps and model, can be efficient in the field of monitoring, planning and dynamic and sustainable management of wildlife habitats. The purpose of this research is to investigate the weather-climate changes in Khabar National Park located in the south of Kerman province using remote sensing technology and Landsat satellite thermal bands and geographic information systems (GIS). Therefore, first, Landsat satellite images and sensors (TM-ETM-TIRS) were prepared in the years 1972 to 2022, then pre-processed, processed images and maps of surface temperature changes (LST) in four seasons and for the years 1988-2000-2010-2014- 2020-2022 has been prepared. Landsat satellite and NDVI index have also been used to monitor vegetation changes. The results of the research showed an increase in the temperature of the earth's surface in the last 40 years and in the 4 investigated seasons. Also, the results of analysis and monitoring of vegetation cover (NDVI) showed a decrease in the average vegetation cover of the region in the studied years. Also, in order to investigate the relationship between vegetation percentage and LST changes, linear regression and SPSS software were used, and R=99% and R2=98% and R2=97% were calculated, which is acceptable and shows that with the reduction of vegetation area, the surface temperature has increased. According to the findings, what is evident is that the trend of climate change and the relative increase in the temperature of the earth's surface and the decrease in vegetation in the study area continues and requires strategic planning and systematic management of the Khabar wildlife habitat in order to maintain the indicators of habitat desirability and the balance and parallelism of ecological relations. And protecting the rich fauna and flora diversity of the region.

Keywords

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Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 76, Special Issue Protected Areas
January 2024
Pages 291-306