Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Vegetation Cover in Char Fasson and Galachipa Upazila of Bangladesh (1994-2024) Using Landsat Imagery

Abstract

This research aims to analyse the spatio-temporal changes of vegetation cover in coastal regions of Char Fasson and Galachipa Upazila, Bangladesh for a period of 30 years (1994-2024) based on Landsat satellite imagery and NDVI. Through the evaluation of NDVI this paper classifies vegetation as no water/bare vegetation, slightly densed vegetation, moderately densed vegetation, and highly densed vegetation. The findings reveal significant fluctuations in vegetation cover: from 1994 to 2004, there has been an increase in vegetation density implying that afforestation has created more moderate and highly densed vegetation out of density vegetation. However, between 2004 and 2014, vegetation cover decreased because some cyclones, like Sidr and Aila, affected the coastal forest of Bangladesh. Other attempts to afforestation supported improved coverage from vegetation between 2014 and 2024. These findings provide clear evidence of the sustainable benefits of coastal afforestation in the reduction of coastal erosion and storm surges that affect vegetation and coasts. Knowledge gained in this research is highly useful to the environmental planners on recommendations for sustainable land uses and preservation to build up ecological stability in Bangladesh weak coastal areas.