Archive · 5 Jan 2026
Satellite Study Reveals Rapid Green Cover Loss in Assam's Protected Areas
A study using satellite pictures showed that the green areas in a protected bird sanctuary in Assam, India, are disappearing.
Over 20 years, the forest and grasslands have been replaced by farmland and buildings.
This is happening because there isn't enough protection and people are farming inside the sanctuary.
The researchers saw that the sanctuary's health is at risk because the grasslands are vanishing and the forests are being broken up into smaller pieces.
This could harm the animals that live there.
A 20-year satellite study revealed significant loss of green cover in Assam's Panidihing Bird Sanctuary.
Cropland increased by 65% from 2001 to 2021, while forest cover decreased by 5.77%.
Grassland area decreased by 11.2 sq km, with much of it converted to cropland.
Researchers observed limited patrolling and protective measures, leading to smallholder agriculture within the sanctuary.
The study suggests that the sanctuary's health and its buffer zone may be jeopardized due to increased landscape fragmentation and loss of grasslands.
- Who
- Researchers from Gauhati University and Indiana University
- What
- A satellite imagery-based study revealing rapid loss of green cover in Assam's protected areas
- When
- Study conducted over 20 years (2001-2021), with fieldwork in December 2022 and January 2023
- Where
- Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Sivasagar district, Assam
- Why
- To assess the changes in land use and land cover within the sanctuary
- Location
- Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Sivasagar district, Assam
- Study Period
- 2001 to 2021
- Cropland Increase
- 65% increase from 2001 to 2021
- Forest Loss
- 5.77% decrease from 2001 to 2021
- Grassland Decrease
- 11.2 sq km from 2001 to 2021
- Researchers
- Namita Sharma, Anup Saikia (Gauhati University), Scott M Robeson (Indiana University)
- Sanctuary Area
- 34 sq km
- Core Forest Loss
- 4.56% from 2001 to 2021