Abstract
The present study assesses the temporal dynamics of above ground biomass (AGB) in Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), Uttar Pradesh, India using series of Landsat data for the years 1989, 2000, 2010 and 2018. The satellite images were preprocessed for surface reflectance, and subsequently we computed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). A forest density map was generated by slicing the computed NDVI and this was used as a basis for sampling strategy. A total of 30 sampling locations were randomly identified. Plot size of 30 mx30 m was established. Tree species were enumerated at each plot and the girth at breast height and tree height measurements were recorded for the year 2018. Tree and plot level AGB (i.e. AGB(F), t ha(-1)) was computed by multiplying the tree volume and specific gravity of wood. AGB (i.e. AGB(P)) prediction models were developed as linear regression equations for the year 2018 by assessing the vegetation indices and the AGB(F). The significant AGB(P) models (R-2=0.94; P=0.0001) were applied for all study years after the data correction among the Landsat sensor series. The AGB(P) was over estimated (22.67 t ha(-1); 7.75%) compared to AGB(F) (t ha(-1)). Moreover, EVI (R-2=0.90) was found to be a better predictor for AGB compared to NDVI (R-2=0.69) or SAVI (R-2=0.77). The AGB(P) of KWS ranged between 289 +/- 36 (in 1989) and 292 +/- 40 (in 2018) with an average decadal positive change of 1.06%.