Analysis of Agricultural and Plantation Land Use Changes Using Spatial and Temporal Data in Deraniyagala and Dehiowita DS Divisions in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Comprehending the dynamics of land use, particularly in agricultural and plantation sectors, has become increasingly vital for ecological sustainability. This research provides an overview of changes in farming and plantation land use in the Deraniyagala and Dehiowita DS divisions of Sri Lanka over the past decade, analyzing remote sensing data from different time periods. This study evaluates urban growth and vegetation, water, and hydric resources within the area using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI). The results reveal contrasting trends: Deraniyagala showed greater urban and environmental strain, coupled with declining vegetation and surface moisture levels, whereas Dehiowita demonstrated comparatively more stable ecological conditions, indicating more sustainable land use. Shifts in crop cultivation patterns demonstrated a pivot of traditional plantation crops, including tea and rubber, towards alternative crops such as coffee and pepper, reflecting demographic pressures and evolving land management practices. This study highlights the potential of remote sensing to capture fine-scale environmental dynamics and facilitate spatial analysis, underscoring the urgent need for integrated strategies in land and water resource management, along with evidence-based spatial planning approaches, to foster sustainable ecological and rural development in environmentally sensitive areas.