D. N. Pant , U. Than Naig

Abstract

This paper deals with forestry land use planning of Lachhiwala Forest Range, Dehra Dun Forest Division, Uttarakhand, India based on the changes within its forests and the people's dependency on them. The methods consist of the preparation of forest type, density, land use change maps based on the visual interpretation of IRS-1C LISS III (1998) and Landsat TM data (1986) and household sample data using Rapid Rural Appraisal technique. The spatial and non spatial database were generated using PC based Arc/View 3.2a. A digital elevation model and subsequent slope map, buffer from stream/nala, forest type and density, adverse changes within forest area and the location of picnic spot were taken as parameters for developing a matrix and subsequent modeling for the creation of a final map showing the potential forestry land uses. The study reveals about 23% negative change due to heavy biotic pressure inside the forest in the past. The present estimates with respect to the amount of full and partial dependency of people on the forest highlight the continuity of its degradation. It has been planned to classify the existing forests of study area into different forestry land uses for sustainable forest management and reducing the dependency of people on them through Joint Forest Management (JFM) and agro-forestry schemes.

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D. P. Semwal , D. N. Pant , P. S. Roy , Varshanaithani

Abstract

This paper deals with the land use land cover change monitoring over the years of 17 duration between 1983 to 2000 using coincidence matrix between the classified details of Landsat MSS and IRS-IC LISS III data of respective years. Maximum Likelihood classification and post classification comparison techniques were performed for evolving coincidence matrix. The ground observations and the empirical evidences quantified under the study reflected that the ischolar_main cause of changes among land use land cover types had been centered on coal mining activities. The overall rate of change was found as 2.16% per year. This includes 0.1% per year change due to coal mines. The agricultural land was reduced by 26.40km² or 22.35% out of its total area and the land was transformed into coal maines, habitation related to coal mines and the abandoned agricultural land classified as grassland! scrub. Coal mining activities have also caused the loss of tree and bamboo vegetation cover by 54.79 km² or 7.27% out of the total area indicating the rate of loss as 0.6% per year.

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D. N. Pant , K. K. Das , P. S. Roy

Abstract

Forest fires have caused significant damage to the forest ecosystem. The devastating fire which ravaged extensive forest area during the Summer of 1995 in the Western and Central Himalaya drew wide attention of the forest managers and environmentalists. It is essential to evolve a strategy to minimize the damage caused by fire. IRS-IB LISS-II multi-spectral remote sensing data of pre-fire and post-fire period (1993 and 1995) pertaining to district Tehri (U.P) have digitally heen analysed. The supervised classification and digital enhancement approach have been used. The geometrically registercd images have been compared to assess the varying degree of forest fire damage. The total area affected under forest fire has been estimated as 20.58% of the total geographical area. The forest fire affected areas are classified as burnt forest, partially burnt forest and partially burnt fallow/ grassland/scrub land. A real extent ofthese are: 3.82,10.72 and 6.05% respectively. The forest areas identified under smoke plumes have been estimated as 2.96% of total geographical area.

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D. N. Pant

Abstract

The Social Forestry schemes are mostly executed under microlevel planning of pockets of wastelands within and around the villages, road, canal and railway lines sides. Remote sensing techniques are effective and useful in evaluation of the land suitable for plantation and selection of species.

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