Land Use and Land Cover Change Analysis in Uttarakhand Himalaya and Its Impact on Environmental Risks

Abstract

The Himalayan range by virtue of geo-climatic conditions is vulnerable to multiple hazards like earthquake, landslide, mudflow, debris flow, cloudburst, flash floods etc. The Himalayan ecosphere is made up of complex eco-systems. Because of the climate variability and anthropogenic activities the fragile ecosystem, especially watersheds in the Himalayan eco-system are widely affected. The land use and land cover changes in Uttarakhand affected substantially on environment and eco system of the Himalayan state. In Uttarakhand, a chaotic process of “development” that goes back many years exacerbated the effects of extreme weathers. Extensive deforestation of mountain tracts by the state and more recently due to “development” projects led to soil erosion and water run-off, thus destabilizing mountain slopes and contributing to more intense and frequent landslides and floods. In addition unchecked hill tourism has resulted in the huge growth of vehicular traffic, spread of roads not suitable to this mountainous terrain, and the construction of poorly designed and unregulated hotels and structures, many near rivers.

Uttarakhand has just 14 % of the total land under cultivation and about 65 % of population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. As furnished in the India State of Forest Report 2011 by Forest Survey of India (Government of India), out of total reported area, about 14 % is under cultivation and more than 55 % of the cultivated land in the state is rainfed. The landholdings are small and scattered. The region also suffers on account of heavy soil erosion and significantly lower yields as compared to the national average.

The present study will review the overall status of the land use and land cover pattern and its impact on the environmental degradation in Uttarakhand, India. The review will also reveal the primary indicators for climate degradation and due to the change in land use and land cover. The brief account of the state on land use and land cover changes will describe the causes of destabilization of fragile ecosystem and threatened biodiversity. Under these present circumstances, the major challenges before the state is to achieve economic prosperity without losing out on its biodiversity.