Land use dynamics and landscape change pattern in a typical micro watershed in the mid elevation zone of central Himalaya, India
Abstract
Remote sensing and GIS were used to study landscape changes from 1963-1996 in the Sadiyagad watershed in the central Himalayas of India. From 1963-1986, the total forest area was reduced by about 13% due to an increase in cropping and livestock activities. Deforestation slowed significantly from 1986-1996 in part due to changes in agricultural practice, a new road linking villages to urban markets, and government-led conservation and reforestation efforts. While the deforestation rate slowed, forest fragmentation increased as indicated by a shape complexity index.
Description
Metadata only record
Keywords
Deforestation, Temperate zones, Resource law, Environmental impacts, Government policy, Forest ecosystems, GIS, Gender, Remote sensing, Land use, Landscape pattern, Shape complexity index, Watershed
Citation
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 86(2): 113-123