Mapping of emerging deforestation hot spots in Kelantan using Geographical Information System (GIS)

Tropical forest has been heavily exploited from the past few decades due to many factors to satisfy human needs. Kelantan is one of the state in Malaysia that significantly lost their forest cover for the past decades. This paper calculated the annual rates of deforestation in Kelantan and identify the emerging hot spots in Kelantan using Geographical Information System (GIS) between year 2007 until 2016. Secondary data in forms of statistical data from year 2007 until 2016 was gathered from Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM) website, Kelantan State Forestry Department (JPNK), non-government organization (NGO) and through website searching then the analysed data was presented through bar graphs and an emerging deforestation hot spot map by using Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS Version 10.3 respectively. The results show that Gua Musang has the most deforested area for the past 10 years with a total of 172,894 ha or 2.11% of land followed by Kuala Krai and Tanah Merah with 44,434 ha (1.95%) and 14,824 ha (1.73%) respectively. The findings of this paper will be useful for the forestry management to manage the forest in Kelantan.