Ecological risk assessment of Kaeng Krachan National Park emphasis on Land Use/Land Cover (LULC)

Abstract

Abstract Land use/land cover (LULC) changes with time, signify disturbances and conservation patterns of landscape types in an environment. Kaeng Krachan National Park (KKNP) is a UNESCO world heritage site with rich biodiversity and provides habitat for indigenous communities who are relying on farming. The study was conducted by calculating landscape ecological risk indices of classified Landsat images based on five landscape classes (Water, Grassland, Built-up-land, Forest, and Cultivated land). Landscape loss indices were calculated based on classified Landsat images. Assigning landscape loss indices in grid cells calculated the ecological risk indices of the area. Ecological risk indices were lowest (ERI ≤ 0.0005), lower (ERI ≤ 0.001), medium (ERI ≤ 0.005), higher (ERI ≤ 0.01), and highest (ERI ≤ 0.015). Ecological risk indices were higher on the east border of KKNP proximate to the semi-urban settlements. The highest risk area demarcates waterbodies and extensively cultivated land. The LULC areas which show the higher variation of changes from 2013 to 2022 are grasslands and forest cover. The changes in the LULC pattern have increased the risk in cultivated land areas and grasslands due to farming obligations. The provision of land permits and land use limitations are addressed issues to conserve KKNP for conservation.