Impact of Land Use Change on Livelihood Options: A Case Study of Upper Pasolgad Watershed, Uttarakhand

Abstract

Land is basic and significant among natural resources. The fundamental aim of land use study is to understand the distribution of land under various uses in different socioeconomic and environmental conditions. In India, livelihood culture is directly or indirectly related to, geographical terrain, local climatic conditions, and social structure. In mountain or hilly terrain where livelihood security is directly dependent on changing climatic conditions, it has become a very important issue for investigation. This study is an attempt to understand the impact of climate change, physiographic, slope, drainage pattern, land use practices, vegetation, altitude, and anthropogenic interference (viz., road construction and settlement, etc.) on sustainable livelihood and common property resources. There is a close linkage between livelihoods, anthropogenic activities, and climate change. This chapter’s focus is on managing the forest plantation and watershed conservation using remote sensing and GIS in Pasolgad Watershed in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Findings indicate that soil erosion is more prone to the area where the plantation is very sparse with high runoff. Research posits that local communities have undertaken plantation of forest with the local leaders. The Van Panchayat ensures the conservation of local forest through effective implementation of programs and policies of the govt. Besides, it demonstrates that the community towards sustainable use of forest through awareness and campaign. It also illustrates that the community forestry helps in a greater extent to conserve and maintain the forest cover at local level.