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Aim : Methodology :Results : Interpretation :The spatial changes in forest cover and deforestation rate over eight decades in Koraput district of Odisha, a mountainous part of Eastern Ghats Highland region was studied using remote sensing and GIS. The dynamics of forest fragmentation was also quantified using patch analysis.The multi-source and multi-date mapping was carried out using Survey of India topographical maps (1930's), Landsat MSS (1973), Landsat TM (1990), IRS P6 LISS III (2004 and 2013) satellite images. Radiometric and contrast correction was done to the images using digital image processing software. On-screen visual interpretation of forest cover was done which was aided by unsupervised classification. Ground truthing was done to determine the classification accuracy. Patch analysis was done to quantify forest fragmentation.The mapping accuracy varied between 71.8% and 93.3 % for different years under study. The results for 1932, 1973, 1990, 2004 and 2013 indicate that the forest cover for the mentioned years were 4413.4 km , 3706.0 km , 3051