Evaluating the impacts of land use/land cover changes across topography against land surface temperature in Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands has experienced multiple land encroachment activities and repeated deforestation, leading to extensive land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) during the past six decades. This study aims to determine the LULCC against topography in Cameron Highlands between 2009 and 2019 by using geospatial techniques to analyze Landsat 7 (ETM+) and 8 (OLI/TIRS), ASTER GDEM and MODIS imaging sensors. The results showed a decline of 35.98 km(2) in primary forests over ten years across the Cameron Highlands, while agricultural lands and urban areas flourished by a rise of 51.61 km(2) and 11.00 km(2) respectively. It can be noted that the elevation most affected is between 1000 and 1500 m, across all classes. Further results showed the expansion of both agriculture and urban development onto slopes above 35 degrees, leading to an instability of soil structure. In a comparison of the base years of 2009 with 2019, mean LST results have shown temperatures rising by 7.5 degrees C, while an average between 3 and 4 degrees C across the region is recorded. The results obtained provide new information for government bodies and land planners to coordinate their actions without further jeopardizing the environment of the Cameron Highlands.

Automated summary

This study analyzed land-use and land-cover changes in the Cameron Highlands over the past decade using geospatial techniques. The results showed a decrease in primary forests and an increase in agricultural lands and urban areas. The most affected elevation range was between 1000 and 1500 meters, with agriculture and urban development expanding onto steep slopes above 35 degrees, leading to soil instability.