Implications of Land Use Dynamics on Ecosystem Service Value: A Case Study from Goalpara District of Assam, Northeast India

Abstract

Systematic studies on implications of land use change on ecosystem service value (ESV) at landscape level are scarce in Northeast India hence, a case study was undertaken in the vicinity of Ghagra Pahar Forest (GPF) predominated by tropical deciduous forest in Goalpara district of Assam. Study aims to assess the ecosystem services (ES) provided by the forest ecosystem. Altogether 23 ES were identified and grouped based on peoples’ knowledge and perceptions. Study area has been categorized in to six land use types. Temporal change analysis revealed that the area coverage under plantation, agriculture and settlement expanded, on the contrary, forest cover, water bodies and grassland decreased remarkably within a time gap of 20 years. The total ESV for the study area was disproportionately distributed among the different functions of ecosystem. Agricultural land contributed the maximum ESV. The total ESV declined at a rate of 0.64 percent per year with a net decrease of 12.7 percent. Sensitivity analysis shows that the values were less than unity indicating that total ecosystem service values would fluctuate only by 0.03-0.42 percent. Results of this study would be useful to the land use planners and policy makers to prioritise conservation efforts for sustainable resource management.