Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Land Use/Land Cover and Agricultural Land Transformation in a Drought-Prone Region: Hura C.D. Block, Purulia, West Bengal (2017-2024)

Abstract

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes are essential indicators of environmental transformation and anthropogenic pressure. This study examined the spatio-temporal dynamics of LULC and agricultural land transformation in the drought-prone Hura Block of Purulia District, West Bengal, India, from 2017 to 2024. Employing Sentinel-2 Level 2A satellite imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the study classifies major land cover categories such as cropland, built-up areas, tree cover, and rangeland and quantifies transitions through spatial overlay techniques and transition matrix analysis in ArcGIS. The findings revealed that croplands, although predominant (averaging 72.61% of the block’s area), experienced a significant decline, contracting to 63.86% by 2023. The reduction in cropland was primarily due to its conversion into rangeland (48.32%), followed by tree cover (35.67%) and built-up areas (13.96%). Built-up areas steadily expanded from 3.87% in 2017 to 5.54% in 2024, reflecting urbanization and infrastructure development in the region. Tree cover increased from 9.20% to 13.23% over the same period, largely due to land abandonment and ecological succession rather than afforestation. Rangelands exhibited volatility, absorbing substantial cropland outflow over the six-year study period. Overall, the findings underscore the dual trajectory of cropland contraction alongside the expansion of rangelands and built-up areas, driven by population pressure, unplanned development, and ecological processes such as the land degradation. These transitions threaten agricultural stability, food security, and the health of ecosystems. This study emphasizes the urgent need for integrated land management strategies that protect croplands, promote sustainable practices, and regulate urban growth to balance ecological conservation and socio-economic development.