| Land use changes, especially the reduction of forest cover, are one of the most important environmental challenges of our time. The decrease in forest cover has resulted in a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, decreased water resources, and the loss of wildlife habitats. This study aimed to investigate the changes in vegetation cover in Arasbaran forests, one of Iran's most valuable biosphere reserves, over 10 years (2015 to 2024). To evaluate various land use and land cover types, including forests, pastures, barren lands, residential areas, and water bodies, Landsat 8 satellite imagery was employed using an object-oriented approach. The results indicated that the most significant changes occurred in pastures and barren lands, with approximately 58,761.2 hectares added to barren lands and 59,484.15 hectares reduced from pastures over the past decade. After water resources, The forest sector of the study area underwent the fewest changes, which decreased from 105,341.4 to 101,863.7, and the area of forests in the region decreased by about 3,477.7 hectares over 10 years. Also, based on the results obtained, the highest overall accuracy was in 2016 with a value of 0.991, the lowest was in 2017 with a value of 0.967, and the highest Kappa coefficient was in 2020 with a value of 0.982, while the lowest was in 2018 with a value of 0.939. The findings of this study on land use changes in Arasbaran forests are crucial for sustainable planning and protection of this valuable ecosystem. By identifying factors that influence land use changes and predicting future trends, we can implement effective management measures to preserve biodiversity, control soil erosion, conserve water resources, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. |
