Geospatial technology for sustainable development

Abstract

The recent events in the Himalayas have depicted more than ever, that we require development strategy for the Himalayas that assesses the susceptibility of the region and requirement for the safety of environment. There is no distrust that the economic growth is the need of the region, but this cannot come on the cost of the environmental degradation. The resource base of Himalayan watersheds sustains traditional mountain societies. However, driven by population explosion, the Himalayan environment has experienced the effects of extension and intensification of agriculture, deforestation; land use and land cover changes and land degradation. The fragile watersheds of Himalayan region are facing multiple and complex environmental crisis and challenges. Therefore, the objectives of the present paper are following – (i) to identify the key drivers for maintaining environment services of the Himalayan watersheds; (ii) to assess the resource base and processes operating within the watershed as an ecosystem; (iii) to establish links between ecological and social ecosystem services and finally (iv) to analyze the LULC (Land use/Land cover) changes and patterns to evolve a sustainable strategy based on geospatial technology.