Simulation and Impact Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes Inside and Around Protected Areas in Lorestan Province, Iran

Abstract :

Monitoring and analyzing land use and land cover (LULC) changes in protected areas and their surrounding buffer zones play an important role in sustainable habitat management and biodiversity conservation. This study examines LULC changes in four protected areas of Lorestan Province, Iran (Ghalikouh, Oshtorankouh, Sefidkouh, and Shadabkouh), together with a 20-kilometer buffer zone, over the period 1990–2050. The key novelty of this research lies in the simultaneous analysis of both the protected areas and their adjacent zones, enabling a clearer distinction between internal and external pressures and a deeper understanding of human-induced impacts. LULC maps were generated by integrating Landsat satellite imagery with the global GLC_FCS30 product at a 30-meter resolution. Future changes up to 2050 were projected using logistic regression modeling in TerrSet software. To assess the significance of LULC changes within the protected areas and their surrounding buffers, statistical tests including Friedman, Wilcoxon, proportion tests, and Chi-square were performed in SPSS at a 5% significance level. The results indicated significant changes inside the protected areas, particularly in built-up and agricultural classes, whereas forest cover and water bodies remained relatively stable. In addition, human pressures in the surrounding buffers intensified, resulting in the expansion of built-up and agricultural land uses. These findings emphasize the necessity of integrated management beyond the official boundaries of protected areas, the use of advanced remote sensing technologies, and active participation of local communities to ensure sustainable conservation of natural resources.

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