COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FOREST COVER AND CARBON STOCK CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE; A CASE STUDY OF MARGALLA HILLS NATIONAL PARK, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

In the global carbon reserves, the forest is one of the central reserves. Humans face critical challenges with the intensification of ozone gases in the atmosphere. The study conducted in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Islamabad capital territory, has analyzed environmental changes and carbon stock estimation. This area has multiple species types: Acacia Modesta, Quercus incana, Pinus roxburghii, Dodonaea viscosa, Olea ferruginea, Ziziphus mauritiana, etc. Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology were used to illustrate Land use land cover (LULC), Contour, Slope, Aspect, and total Rainfall calculation.

LULC data of different years from 1997 to 2019 for every five years were analyzed. The analysis results showed that in Margalla Hills National Park, during the year 1997, total settlements were on about 145 hectares. Dense forest had an area of about 7262 ha, rocks were on about 5920 ha, barren land was about 2680 ha, and water bodies on about 38 ha By 2005, the Settlement area increased by about 877 ha in 8 years. While the increase noted in the dense forest was about 1000 ha. Findings reveal that water bodies in MHNP decreased by about 37 hectares. Furthermore, by 2010, the Settlement area was increased, and the areas of barren land and water bodies decreased. It is evaluated that during the year 1997 northeastern part of the study area had a higher amount of vegetation than the NDVI results. Whereas, within eight years, the same portion contains less vegetation. Rainfall results were analyzed for 2019, which shows that rainfall in MHNP increased. Sixty-seven species are enlisted in MHNP, and a detailed inventory was prepared for the first time. The study results can be helpful in the analysis of future impacts of these developments on the land cover and C stocks in the forest ecosystem.