Historical context and drivers of forest cover change in Wayanad plateau: a key elephant landscape in India’s Western Ghats

Abstract

Understanding the impact of past human interventions on forest ecosystems is crucial for Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) conservation, given that forest cover serves as the primary determinant of their distribution and abundance. This study aims to analyse the patterns and drivers of deforestation of the Wayanad, a key summer habitat of Asian elephants in the Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghat landscape of India’s Western Ghats, spanning from pre-colonial period to the present and its implications on Asian elephants. This study integrated historical records, maps, remotely sensed images, to reconstruct the historical context of the landscape. Despite their longstanding cultural and historical significance, elephants have been subjected to significant exploitation, often serving as a tool for the exploitation of their own habitat. Demographic pressures, including population growth from 75,149 in 1901 to 817,420 in 2011, and agricultural intensification, emerged as major drivers of deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Rates of land cover change varied across periods, with the most drastic reduction occurring during the post-colonial era (1816.5 km2 in 1950 to 850.9 km2 by 2023). The loss and fragmentation of forest cover have disrupted traditional migration routes and exacerbated Human-Elephant Conflict, threatening both elephant populations and human livelihoods. This study underscores the importance of adopting a historical perspective as a valuable frame of reference for understanding current patterns and processes to improve the conservation and management of elephants in human-dominated landscapes.