Mapping of selected Protected Areas in GIS platform

This work was carried out to support the 'Protected Area Programme' of WWF-India. The protected areas taken up were Buxa, Periyar, Ranthambore, Kalakad, Palamau, Pench and Similipal. Preliminary GIS database of these PAs covering many features like PA boundary, core and buffer zones, settlements, communication network etc. has been created using ARC/INFO desktop mapping software, based on the information gathered during field visits. The database facilities easy storage, retrieval and updation besides multilayer analysis of geographically referenced datasets of spatial and non-spatial origin and building up models for several purposes viz. Evaluating biotic pressures, change in landuse patterns etc.