Research Article International Journal of Advancement in Remote Sensing, GIS and Geography RESTORATION PRIORITISATION AT LANDSCAPE LEVEL CONSIDERING BIODIVERSITY, CARBON AND COMMUNITY CRITERIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

ABSTRACT: A geomatics based method has been developed to prioritise the land for reforestation considering biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and community benefits. The reforestation sites were identified based on Kyoto Protocal norms using chronological satellite datasets. Surrounding landscape of such sites was then investigated for biodiversity (floral), carbon (tree and soil) and demographic patterns (community). The prioritised sites were those having highest carbon, biodiversity ratings and dominance of tribal population in their surroundings. Biodiversity was characterised using four basic data types i.e. vegetation type, terrain, field and social (disturbance due to road, railways and settlements) using SPLAM software package. Tree and soil carbon pools were estimated in sample plots distributed in homogeneous vegetation strata (HVS). Community demographic patterns were investigated using census linked village maps. The prioritised sites could potentially sequester 76729t of carbon, enough to compensate around 53 % of carbon losses that have occurred since 1998. The species like Shorea robusta Roxb., Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth., Tectona grandis L., Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb. and Ficus rumphii Bl. were found to be well distributed which together constituted 70 % of the existing tree carbon pool of the region thus are potential species for future reforestation projects. The prioritised reforestation sites were surrounded by significant triba