IMPACT ANALYSIS OF LAND-COVER (GREENBELTS) CHANGE DUE TO CHANGES IN LAND-USE PLANNING

Abstract

The city and regions, which rely on their ecosystems, depends upon their health and availability. Changes to the usage pattern of these, as a process of urbanization, may bring economically positive impact but can be devastating for the ecology and social well-being of many groups of society. It is thus becoming increasingly important to measure these city resources in order to manage them effectively. The challenge is of appropriate land-use planning giving special consideration to natural systems which combines with the urban edges. This paper briefly analyses the green belt as a component of natural system and its role played in National Capital Region of a developing country (India) as an example. The attempt is made to identify the impacts due to changes in land-use planning on the green belt between two cities. Simultaneously, attention is drawn to the ways and situations, in which other functions can be incorporated within the green belts. These have helped to bring out potentials which can be considered for effective planning of green belt. The study is based on the evidence, case studies and it is suggested that appropriate planning may make green belts (GB) an effective planning tool but monitoring plays the most important role in their performance.