Microlevel Planning for Integrated Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Development: An Approach Through a Micro Watershed Using Geospatial Technology

Abstract

“Village” is the microlevel or the baselevel where the development starts. It may be social, economic, political, or environmental. Proper planning, monitoring, and managing natural resources are always a challenging task for decision-makers and experts. In the present scenario, the use of remote sensing (RS), geographical information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), and other information technology has the potential to manage the natural resources for sustainable livelihood. Implementation of these technologies in microlevel planning through the micro watershed approach is always encouraging and for these, we need a storehouse of the different geospatial database. In the present study, an attempt has been made to use the geospatial technology in the land and water resources management of a village enclosed within a micro watershed. The geospatial database has been generated at the cadastral level or plot level, i.e., at 1:4000 scale. The resource inventory includes land use/land cover, digital elevation model (DEM), slope, geomorphology, ground water prospect, soil, and land capability maps. The site suitability analysis technique is used to develop the land and water resources management action plan. In the land resource management plan, seven types of alternative land use practices are suggested for the study area. On the other hand, the water resource management action plan suggests suitable sites for the construction of bore well and dug well. Further, the action plan suggests the site for the construction of different farm ponds, check dam, nala bund, water harvesting structure, etc. The integration of the action plan map on the DEM gives a 3D perspective which will be an add-on in terms of visualization to the administrators and decision-makers.