Grassland mapping/monitoring of Banni, Kachchh (Gujarat) using remotely-sensed data

Abstract

Abstract In India 12-15 million ha of land, i.e., 3-7 per cent of the total geographical area, has been recorded as permanent pasture or grazing land. In recent years, the factors responsible for gradual loss of grassland are expanding agriculture, overstocking of domestic animals at a phenomenal rate and improper pasture and grazing land management. However, in an agriculture-based economy, like that of India, a judicious ratio has to be maintained amongst grasslands, croplands and forestlands, in order to obtain optimum results in socio-economic and ecological terms. The acquisition of sufficient and timely information on these resource components is of prime importance for judicious planning. Remote sensing data, which is now available at regular intervals, assumes a great significance. To understand the above-mentioned facts a pilot study has been conducted in the Banni grassland areas of the Kachchh district. Banni, at one time considered the largest grassland of its kind in Asia, has fallen upon sad...