Protected areas in Indian Siwalik

protected areas siwaliks

A short description of the post.

Abhishek Kumar https://akumar.netlify.app/ (Panjab University, Chandigarh)https://puchd.ac.in/
2021-10-22

Introduction

Methodology

We defined the Siwalik region based on the Geological Map of India (GSI, 2021) accessed from the bhukosh portal on 13 August 2019. Then, we filtered the Siwalik groups from the INDEX_ variable and dissolved with 8.5 km buffer to get an outline of the region (referred to Siwalik region hereafter). Based on this outline, we filtered the Indian states and districts that completely or partly overlapped.

Show code 
## data preparation
###################

## outline of Siwalik group from Geological Survey of India (GSI)
sw_buffer <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/geology/Siwalik_Geology_2M.gpkg") |>
  
  # create a buffer of 8.5 km around the area
  st_buffer(8500) |>
  
  # summarise to dissolve internal boundaries
  summarise() |>
  
  # add a column name
  mutate(name = "Siwalik") |>
  
  # make valid
  st_make_valid() |> 
  
  # save locally to rds
  saveRDS("data/siwalik_buffer.rds")

################################################################################

## Indian states covering Siwalik
jk <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_JAMMU & KASHMIR.gpkg")
hp <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_HIMACHAL PRADESH.gpkg")
pb <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_PUNJAB.gpkg")
ch <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_CHANDIGARH.gpkg")
hr <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_HARYANA.gpkg")
uk <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_UTTARAKHAND.gpkg")
up <- st_read("D:/spatial-data/admin/ind_adm2/stname_UTTAR PRADESH.gpkg")

## filter and save districts covering Siwaliks
bind_rows(jk, hp, pb, ch, hr, uk, up) |>
  st_filter(sw_buffer, .predicate = st_overlaps) |>
  bind_rows(filter(hp, dtname %in% c("Hamirpur", "Una"))) |>
  saveRDS("data/siwalik_districts.rds")

Protected areas in Siwaliks

We identified the protected areas falling in the Siwalik region from the National Wildlife Database prepared by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun (Sivakumar, Sathyakumar, & Rawat, 2010; WII, 2020). Further, we also considered the maps developed by WII (accessed from: http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Maps_PAs_1267.aspx) to identify the protected areas distribution in this region. The Specifically, we retrieved the state/UT, name, type, year of establishment and area for each protected area identified to overlap with Siwalik region.

Show code 
rbind(
    c("Chandigarh", "Sukhna Lake", "WLS", "1986", "25.98"),
    
    c("Haryana", "Kalesar", "NP", "2003", "46.82"),
    c("Haryana", "Bir Shikargah", "WLS", "1987", "7.67"),  
    c("Haryana", "Kalesar", "WLS", "1996", "54.36"),
    c("Haryana", "Khol Hi Raitan", "WLS", "2004", "48.83"),
    
    
    c("Himachal Pradesh", "Simbalbara", "NP", "2010", "27.88"),
    c("Himachal Pradesh", "Gobind Sagar", "WLS", "1962", "100.34"),
    c("Himachal Pradesh", "Pong Dam Lake", "WLS", "1982", "207.59"),
    c("Himachal Pradesh", "Shilli", "ConR", "2013", "1.49"),
    c("Himachal Pradesh", "Shri Naina Devi", "ConR", "2013", "17.01"),
    
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Jasrota", "WLS", "1987", "10.04"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Nandni", "WLS", "1981", "33.34"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Ramnagar Rakha", "WLS", "1981", "31.5"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Surinsar Mansar", "WLS", "1981", "97.82"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Trikuta", "WLS", "1981", "31.77"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Bahu", "ConR", "2008", "19.75"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Gharana Wetland", "ConR", "2008", "0.75"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Kukarian Wetland", "ConR", "2008", "24.25"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Nanga Wetland", "ConR", "2008", "15.25"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Pargwal Wetland", "ConR", "2008", "49.25"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Sangral-Asachak Wetland", "ConR", "2008", "7.00"),
    c("Jammu and Kashmir", "Thein Wetland", "ConR", "2008", "18.90"),
    
    
    c("Punjab", "Jhajjar Bacholi", "WLS", "1998", "1.16"),
    c("Punjab", "Takhni-Rehampur", "WLS", "1992", "3.82"),
    c("Punjab", "Nangal", "WLS", "2009", "2.9"),
    c("Punjab", "Ranjit Sagar", "ConR", "2017", "18.65"),
    c("Punjab", "Ropar Wetland", "ConR", "2017", "2.11"),
    c("Punjab", "Lalwan", "ComR", "2007", "12.67"),
    c("Punjab", "Siswan", "ComR", "2017", "12.95"),
    
    c("Uttarakhand", "Corbett", "NP", "1936", "520.82"),
    c("Uttarakhand", "Rajaji", "NP", "1983", "820"),
    c("Uttarakhand", "Nandhaur", "WLS", "2012", "269.96"),
    c("Uttarakhand", "Sonanadi", "WLS", "1987", "301.18"),
    c("Uttarakhand", "Jhilmil Jheel", "ConR", "2005", "37.84"),
    c("Uttarakhand", "Pawalgarh", "ConR", "2012", "58.25")
    
) |>
    
    as.data.frame() |> 
    
    dplyr::mutate(V1 = as.factor(V1), V3 = as.factor(V3), V4 = as.integer(V4), 
           V5 = as.numeric(V5)) |>
      
    dplyr::rename("State/UT" = V1, "Name" = V2 , "Type" = V3, "Year" = V4, 
               "Area" = V5) |>
  
    gt(caption = md("Protected areas in Siwaliks of north-west India (Source: Wildlife Institute of India, [2020](http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Protected_Area_854.aspx))")) |>
    
    cols_label(Area = md("Area (km<sup>2</sup>)")) |>
    
    fmt_number(columns = 5) |>
    
    cols_align(align = "left", columns = 1) |>
    
    tab_source_note(
        md("**References:** <br>
       Gosh-Harihar et al ([2019](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.06.024));
       Sivakumar et al ([2010](http://environmentportal.in/files/Shivalik.pdf))")
    ) |>
    
    tab_source_note(
        md("**Websites:** <br>
      Protected Areas: <http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Protected_Area_854.aspx> <br>
      National Parks: <http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/npa_8231.aspx> <br>
      Wildlife Sanctuaries: <http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx> <br>
      Conservation Reserves: <http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/cri_8229.aspx> <br>
      Community Reserves: <http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/cri_8228.aspx>"
        )
    ) |>
    
    tab_options(
        column_labels.border.top.width = 2,
        column_labels.border.top.color = "black",
        
        table_body.border.top.color = "black",
        table_body.border.top.width = 3,
        
        table_body.border.bottom.color = "black",
        table_body.border.bottom.width = 2,
        
        table.border.bottom.width = 0,
        table.border.bottom.color = NULL,
        
        # make the width 100%
        table.width = pct(100),
        table.background.color = "white"
    )
Table 1: Protected areas in Siwaliks of north-west India (Source: Wildlife Institute of India, 2020)
State/UT Name Type Year Area (km2)
Chandigarh Sukhna Lake WLS 1986 25.98
Haryana Kalesar NP 2003 46.82
Haryana Bir Shikargah WLS 1987 7.67
Haryana Kalesar WLS 1996 54.36
Haryana Khol Hi Raitan WLS 2004 48.83
Himachal Pradesh Simbalbara NP 2010 27.88
Himachal Pradesh Gobind Sagar WLS 1962 100.34
Himachal Pradesh Pong Dam Lake WLS 1982 207.59
Himachal Pradesh Shilli ConR 2013 1.49
Himachal Pradesh Shri Naina Devi ConR 2013 17.01
Jammu and Kashmir Jasrota WLS 1987 10.04
Jammu and Kashmir Nandni WLS 1981 33.34
Jammu and Kashmir Ramnagar Rakha WLS 1981 31.50
Jammu and Kashmir Surinsar Mansar WLS 1981 97.82
Jammu and Kashmir Trikuta WLS 1981 31.77
Jammu and Kashmir Bahu ConR 2008 19.75
Jammu and Kashmir Gharana Wetland ConR 2008 0.75
Jammu and Kashmir Kukarian Wetland ConR 2008 24.25
Jammu and Kashmir Nanga Wetland ConR 2008 15.25
Jammu and Kashmir Pargwal Wetland ConR 2008 49.25
Jammu and Kashmir Sangral-Asachak Wetland ConR 2008 7.00
Jammu and Kashmir Thein Wetland ConR 2008 18.90
Punjab Jhajjar Bacholi WLS 1998 1.16
Punjab Takhni-Rehampur WLS 1992 3.82
Punjab Nangal WLS 2009 2.90
Punjab Ranjit Sagar ConR 2017 18.65
Punjab Ropar Wetland ConR 2017 2.11
Punjab Lalwan ComR 2007 12.67
Punjab Siswan ComR 2017 12.95
Uttarakhand Corbett NP 1936 520.82
Uttarakhand Rajaji NP 1983 820.00
Uttarakhand Nandhaur WLS 2012 269.96
Uttarakhand Sonanadi WLS 1987 301.18
Uttarakhand Jhilmil Jheel ConR 2005 37.84
Uttarakhand Pawalgarh ConR 2012 58.25
References:
Gosh-Harihar et al (2019); Sivakumar et al (2010)
Websites:
Protected Areas: http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Protected_Area_854.aspx
National Parks: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/npa_8231.aspx
Wildlife Sanctuaries: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx
Conservation Reserves: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/cri_8229.aspx
Community Reserves: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/cri_8228.aspx

Next, we searched for boundaries of identified protected areas in Siwalik region. Unfortunately, we were unable to find any reliable and accurate database for spatial polygons of the protected areas. We decided to use the polygons provided the OpenStreetMap, which are the nearest available boundaries for protected areas of India. Since the present study aim to assess vegetation change, we filtered all the terrestrial protected areas.The polygons for these selected protected areas were accessed using the R package osmdata (Padgham, Lovelace, Salmon, & Rudis, 2017).

Show code 
################################################################################
library(osmdata)

sw_buffer <- readRDS("data/siwalik_buffer.rds")

## Protected areas in Siwaliks
pas <- (opq(c(73.44, 28.99, 80.41, 34.04)) |>
          add_osm_feature(key = "boundary", 
                          value = c("national_park", "protected_area")) |> 
          add_osm_feature(key = "leisure", value = "nature_reserve") |> 
          osmdata_sf())$osm_polygons |> 
  dplyr::select(name, geometry) |>
  st_filter(sw_buffer, .predicate = st_within)

## add names of protected areas returned as NA
pas_na_filled <- pas |> filter(is.na(name)) |>
  mutate(name = c("Rajaji National Park", "Pong Dam WLS", "Kalesar WLS"))

## merge and save to local file
pas |> filter(!is.na(name)) |> 
  bind_rows(pas_na_filled) |>
  saveRDS("data/pas.rds")

################################################################################
## function to extract polygon
extract.pas <- function(xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax){
  pas <- (opq(c(xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax)) |>
  add_osm_feature(key = "boundary", 
                  value = c("protected_area", "national_park"), 
                  value_exact = F) |>
  osmdata_sf())$osm_polygons |>
  dplyr::select(name, geometry)
}

## search and add protected areas
chpas <- extract.pas(xmin = 76.8024, ymin = 30.7425, xmax = 76.8943, ymax = 30.8091)

# 2. Corbett National Park
cnp <- extract.pas(78.6572, 29.4134, 79.1054, 29.6985)
  
# 3. Gobind sagar
Show code 
tmap_mode("view")
readRDS("data/pas.rds") |>
  tm_shape() + tm_fill(col = "pink", alpha = 0.1) + tm_borders(lwd = 2, col = "blue")
Show code 
#s2::s2_rebuild()
#sf::sf_use_s2(FALSE)

Elevation

Show code 
library(raster)
library(tmap)

elev <- raster("D:/spatial-data/elevation/Siwalik_Elevation90.tif")
elev[elev > 2000 | elev == 0] <- NA

tm_shape(elev) + tm_raster()

Further resources

GSI. (2021). Geological Map of India. Kolkata: Geological Survey of India. Retrieved from https://bhukosh.gsi.gov.in/Bhukosh/MapViewer.aspx
Padgham, M., Lovelace, R., Salmon, M., & Rudis, B. (2017). osmdata. Journal of Open Source Software, 2(14), 305. https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.00305
Sivakumar, K., Sathyakumar, S., & Rawat, G. S. (2010). A preliminary review on conservation status of Shivalik landscape in northwest India. Indian Forester, 136(10), 1376–1382. Retrieved from http://www.indianforester.co.in/index.php/indianforester/article/view/12730
WII. (2020). National wildlife database. Dehradun: Wildlife Institute of India. Retrieved from http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/Protected_Area_854.aspx

References

Corrections

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Reuse

Text and figures are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 4.0. Source code is available at https://github.com/abhikumar86/abhikumar86.github.io/, unless otherwise noted. The figures that have been reused from other sources don't fall under this license and can be recognized by a note in their caption: "Figure from ...".

Citation

For attribution, please cite this work as

Kumar (2021, Oct. 22). Abhishek Kumar: Protected areas in Indian Siwalik. Retrieved from https://abhikumar86.github.io/posts/2021-10-22-siwalik-pas/

BibTeX citation

@misc{kumar2021protected,
  author = {Kumar, Abhishek},
  title = {Abhishek Kumar: Protected areas in Indian Siwalik},
  url = {https://abhikumar86.github.io/posts/2021-10-22-siwalik-pas/},
  year = {2021}
}
© Copyright 2021 Abhishek Kumar