Abstract
Landcover change is an important factor that changes structure and function of regional ecosystem. As the rise of concern on environment quality, many studies are trying to quantify and evaluate the landsacpe in recent days. In this study, using landscape indices with RS(Remote Sensing) and GIS(Geographic Information System) technology, spatio-temporal variations of areas and distribution of forest patches were examined in the Chonan from 1985 to 1996. Fragstats 2.0 was employed to analyze and compute 31 landscape indices from 52 landcover maps. A result of this study showed that area of forest and paddy decreased as a result of urban sprawl. Especially from 1993 to 1996, the change of land use progressed rapidly because of merging a city and a country in Chonan. The size of patch in forest had been smaller and irregular form, heterogeneity of size of forest patches within sub-basin increased, and variety of patch types around forest patches increased from 1985 to 1996.