Forests have been the key element in maintaining sustainability of many global phenomena. Human dependency on forests is both necessary and unavoidable and hence degradation of this natural resource is inevitable. The study aims to understand the change dynamics over past few decades in the Shimla district, using remote sensing and GIS based techniques.

Invasive species have been the focus of environmentalists due to their undesired impact on the ecosystem. Spread of Lantana (Lantana camara L.), an invasive plant species, has been found in diverse geophysical environments causing a threat to the native flora.