Understanding the Resilience of Sal and Teak Forests to Climate Variability Using NDVI and EVI Time Series

Abstract

This study attempts to understand the climatic resilience of two forest types of central India—that is, Tectona grandis (Teak) forest of Satpura Tiger Reserve and Shorea robusta (Sal) forest of Kanha Tiger Reserve—using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI) extracted from MODIS, and climate variable data sets at highest spatial and temporal scales. Teak and Sal forests within the core area of the selected tiger reserves represent the least anthropogenic disturbances, and therefore, the observed changes in NDVI and EVI over the past 16 years could be analyzed in the context of climate change. The correlation analysis between climatic variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, mean temperature, and total annual rainfall) and forest response indicators (NDVI/EVI) at seasonal and annual scales revealed that Teak and Sal forests are more sensitive to change in past temperature as compared with rainfall. Also, the changes in NDVI and EVI of Sal forest are correlated more to minimum temperature, and that of Teak forest to maximum temperature. The analysis of sapling girth class of Sal and Teak further revealed that Sal as compared with Teak is more affected because of the changing climate variables of the recent past. The findings of the study will help manage forests more efficiently in the context of changing climate.

A Random Forest Model for Drought: Monitoring and Validation for Grassland Drought Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data

“…When the vegetation is under drought stress, the NDVI and EVI will decrease accordingly [35,36]. The NDVI is influenced by soil background values, and its sensitivity is low in areas with high vegetation cover [37].…”

Understanding synergies and tradeoffs between forests, water, and climate change

“…The ecology, distribution, biomes, and structure of global vegetation patterns are strongly influenced by climate with an estimated one‐third of global forests under the threat of composition shift due to climate change (Dale et al, 2010; Shriner et al, 1998). Forests of different climatic zones, types, ages, regions react in a diversified manner to climatic variability due to differences in sensitivity and resilience to disturbances (Bonan, 2008; Canadell & Raupach, 2008; Devi et al, 2018; Goldstein et al, 2000; Patasaraiya et al, 2021; Ravindranath et al, 2006; Yu et al, 2019). These sensitivities of forest ecosystems are further impacted by water availability.…”

“…Forests and water resources face additional pressure of an exponentially increasing population, unsustainable extraction of resources, pollution while also being adversely impacted by climate change. It has been documented that even moderate climatic anomalies may result in serious alterations of forest ecosystems (Edenhofer, 2015) in the form of forest composition shift; changes in biomes, structure, function, and species; forest‐diebacks and pest attacks (Allen, 2009; Boisvenue & Running, 2006; Bonan, 2008; Chen et al, 2011; Devi et al, 2018; Hanewinkel et al, 2010; Hansen et al, 2001; Patasaraiya et al, 2021). The increased rate and uncertainty of climatic variability (Thornton et al, 2014), also alters the relationship between forests and water flow (Caldwell et al, 2012) and the “climate‐regulatory function of forests” necessary for a sustained water regime and availability (Ellison et al, 2012).…”

“…Hence, a rapidly changing climate underlines the need to assess the dynamic relationships between forest and water in a new context. There have been several studies on understanding the impact of climate change on forests (Allen, 2009; Devi et al, 2018; Patasaraiya et al, 2021; Ravindranath et al, 2006), agriculture (Ahmad et al, 2011; Mendelsohn, 2008), biodiversity (Lovejoy & Hannah, 2005; Pawson et al, 2013), water (Freas et al, 2008; Kumar, 2012), and land‐use (Booij et al, 2019; Khare et al, 2015). Although climate change impacts on forests and water separately have been studied intensively, the inter‐relationship between the three have been less explored, especially in the Indian subcontinent.…”