Population - Forest Cover Dynamics: Population and Forest Cover Dynamics in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal

As population expands,demands for resources such as food,water,timber, fuel etc. increases posing high pressure on the landscape. NFI was carried out in early nineties in Nepal. Since then,forests data haven?t been updated yet at national level & early nineties data do not represent present situation & growing demands of national/international data needs. The main aims of this study were to analyze the trend of forest cover change, relationship between forest cover/land use change and population dynamics and predict its future scenario in the GCA, Nepal using GIS & RS from Landsat satellite images. Prediction of land cover dynamics for the year 2020 was carried out using CA_MARKOV model available in IDRISI software. This study investigates linkages between population and forest condition which is the major driving factor to influence forest land use changes. It provides basic information on the human population, forest cover and land use of the GCA from 1977 to 2010. So, the study is useful to researcher, naturalist, academician, local communities and all national & international development sectors for the purpose of knowledge base and planning the future strategy and policies.