Automated Burned Area Delineation Using IRS AWiFS satellite data

India is endowed with a rich forest cover. Over 21 % of country’s area is covered by forest of varied composition and structure. Out of 67.5 million ha of Indian forests, about 55 % of the forest cover is being subjected to fires each year, causing an economic loss of over 440 crores of rupees apart from other ecological effects. Studies carried out by Forest Survey of India reveals that on an average 53 % forest cover of the country is prone to fires and 6.17 % of the forests are prone to severe fire damage. Forest Survey of India in a countrywide study in 1995 estimated that about 1.45 million hectares of forest are affected by fire annually. According to Fores