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.