Geospatial artificial intelligence for automating forest land encroachment detection in India

Abstract

Forest lands in India are under severe pressure from illegal encroachment despite the enactment of the Indian Forest Act (IFA) 1927 and Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA) 1980. This situation effectively reduces the land available for afforestation, affecting India’s global commitment to fighting climate change. Encroachment in remote locations goes undetected, preventing any measures for removal. The feasibility of applying Artificial intelligence(AI) methods on Very High Resolution(VHR) satellite imagery to automate the identification of encroachments was examined. The evaluation found that the current level of research makes it feasible. A novel method for detection and monitoring of eviction of encroachment on forestland was proposed to increase the land available for afforestation. This method can ensure more CO2 sequestration to help India meet its commitments in fighting climate change.