Application of GIS and remote
sensing in wildlife biology
R. Prasad
Dept. of Zoology
Eastern Karbi Anglong College
Introduction
Wildlife and Biodiversity management require a reliable and relevant data on
the distribution of species, abundance, their habitats, as well as threats.
Therefore, Remote Sensing and GIS (Geographic information system) assists in
data collection and to analyse the abundance of wildlife as well as provide
suitable data for conservation management and planning.
GIS is a computerized system designed for the storage, retrieval and analysis of
geographically referenced data. GIS uses advanced analytical tools to explore at
a scientific level the spatial relationships, patterns and processes of cultural,
biological, demographic, economic, geographic and physical phenomena.
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or
phenomenon without making physical contact with the object, in contrast to in
situ or on-site observation. The term is applied especially to acquiring
information about the Earth and other planets. Remote sensing is used in
numerous fields, including geography, land surveying and most Earth science
disciplines. Other uses include different areas of the earth sciences such as
natural resource management, agricultural fields such as land usage and
conservation.
R. Prasad, EKAC
According to the IUCN (1996), “The main purpose of wildlife conservation is to
maintain maximum plant and animal diversity through genetic traits, ecological
functions and bio-geo-chemical cycles, as well as uphold aesthetic values.”
Remote sensing and GIS are the most efficient means for management of our
natural resources. Respective coverage from various satellites provides an
excellent geographic database for future planning of our resources. Resource
information system is the primary need for planning management and its
valuable implementation.
Geographic Information System (GIS) can provide spatial information with
relevant conventional statistics when data is made computer readable. It can help
in changing the very approach of wildlife management based more on current
information and location oriented.
Remote Sensing techniques (both satellite image and aerial photo interpretation)
play a vital role in wildlife and biodiversity management because of its unique
Characteristics of synoptic view, repetitive coverage, and uniformity. The forest
management objective where the Remote Sensing has a significant roles to play
a revision and updating of working plan, wildlife management, logging planning,
fire control, land utilization studies, grazing land management, soil and water
conservation, mapping of sites suitable for social forestry (fuel & fodder
plantations) and for other important species of general Afforestation
programmes. R. Prasad, EKAC
APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING & GIS
Revision and updating of stock maps
Preparation of working plan
Fire risk Zonation
Planning response routes
Wildlife habitat analyses
Protected area management
Wasteland development planning
Site suitability analysis for Afforestation
Identification of JFM (Joint Forest Management)
Areas and participatory forest
Fire line and Management
Soil and water conservation
R. Prasad, EKAC
Wildlife, and its conservation, is in crisis. Unprecedented and increasing loss of
native species and their habitats has been caused by different human activities.
Management strategies have focused mainly on single species and protected
areas. Immediate conservation is required particularly for areas outside the
protected area system, which have rich wildlife resources. However, this action is
hampered by lack of information and knowledge about species abundance,
species distributions and factors influencing their distributions in these areas. Also
there is general lack of understanding about the ecological, social and cultural
processes that maintain diversity in different areas or ecosystems, i.e. of wildlife
conservation at a landscape scale. Successful wildlife management requires
appropriate data on wildlife especially data on spatial and temporal abundance
and distribution. Remote sensing and GIS techniques are increasingly being used
in the collection and analysis of the data as well as the monitoring and overall
management of wildlife.
R. Prasad, EKAC
Geographic information on the distribution of wildlife populations forms a
basic source of information in wildlife management. Most commonly,
distribution is derived from observations in the field of the animal species or
their artefacts. Radio-telemetry and satellite tracking have been used to
record the distribution of a variety of animal species.
GIS is increasingly used for mapping wildlife density and distribution derived
from ground or aerial survey observations.
Some other application of GIS in Wildlife Ecology
1. Population viability analysis
2. Home range analysis
3. Human-wildlife conflicts
4. Wildlife conservation
a. Population distribution
b. Habitat use
c. Current regional biodiversity R. Prasad, EKAC
Population Viability Analysis (PVA)
It is a quantitative analysis of population dynamics with the goal of assessing
extinction risk. Population sizes change over time. The population sizes are
affected by many things:
1. Demographic uncertainty
2. Environmental uncertainty
3. Genetic uncertainty
Uses of PVA:
• Estimate the extinction probability for a population
• Determine the minimum viable population
• Determine the minimum reserve size
• Predict future population size
• Shows the importance of recovery efforts R. Prasad, EKAC
Home Range Analysis
• Home range is area transversed by the individuals in its normal activities for food
gathering, mating and caring for young ones.
• There are several methods to estimate home ranges of wildlife. They are
Polygon method: This estimators are derived from the peripheral points and it
provides the extent of the animal range.
Center of activity method: This estimators are derived by assuming a parametric
form the utilization distribution function and putting them in the form of activity
data.
Nonparametric method: This estimators are derived by approximating the
utilization distribution function using robust density estimator on geographic
coordinates.
R. Prasad, EKAC
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Considering the facts that the human-wildlife conflict create problem and
damage around different reserve in the country. The use of remote sensing
technology and GIS has made some efforts to identify such events and
reduces the cause.
The perspective for the use of Remote sensing and GIS information system in
biodiversity mapping, natural resource planning, and management are vast.
These technologies are presently fully developed, and they are gradually
more being applied in natural resource mapping, planning, and
management.
Future research in Wildlife and Biodiversity management should focus on
developing more Realistic and dynamic management of Wildlife in space and
time.
GIS is also considerable as an important tool for making the decision to solve
the problems of environment by dealing with the Geo-information. The basic
elements of the GIS includes software, hardware, live ware and data.
R. Prasad, EKAC
R. Prasad, EKAC
