Forest management and land use/cover changes in a typical micro watershed in the mid elevation zone of Central Himalaya, India

Abstract

In most developing countries, large-scale land use/cover changes are reported over the last few centuries. In most cases, it is attributed to the human population growth. To achieve conservation of biodiversity and ecological functions of natural ecosystem, large tracts were taken over by the Governments in many developing countries. This study analyses the spatial and temporal pattern of land use/cover change in a micro watershed in Central Himalaya, India, during 1967–1997 period based on interpretation of satellite data and using a geographic information system (GIS). During the last 30 years (i.e. 1967–1997) the forest cover was altered drastically with increasing population pressure (both human and animal), agricultural activities and raw material extraction activities. Agricultural expansion at the cost of loss of forest cover was the most prominent change in the forests managed by the people. In Government Reserve Forests, there was no agricultural expansion but changes in tree density and canopy cover were evident. Due to abandonment of large tracts of rainfed agricultural areas on slopping terraces in middle elevations, the area of culturable wastes increased while agricultural expansion at the expense of forests occurred and thus the total cultivated land stayed stagnant between 1971 and 1991. While environmental degradation resulted in low agricultural yields as well as poor fuelwood and fodder yields in most areas, diversification of agriculture in flood terraces in lower valleys due to Government development programmes improved agricultural participation. This study shows that while Government Forest Department is able to resist losses of areas under their control to agricultural expansion, change of vegetal cover indicates, they are not in a position to police the areas with broad leaved trees which are exploited by local inhabitants for their subsistence needs. This paper reiterates the argument that institutions play a crucial role in molding forested landscapes.