We estimated changes in forest cover between 1973 and 1995 in the southern
part of the Western Ghats using satellite data, The study area of approxima
tely 40,000 km(2) showed a loss of 25.6% in forest cover over 22 years. The
dense forest was reduced by 19.5% and open forest decreased by 33.2%. As a
consequence, degraded forest increased by 26.64%. There has been a great d
eal of spatial variability in the pattern of forest loss and land use chang
e throughout the region. Our estimates of deforestation in the region for t
he contemporary period are the highest reported so far.