Use of high-resolution IKONOS data and GIS technique for transformation of landuse/landcover for sustainable development

• Published in: Current science (Bangalore) Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 204 - 212
• Main Authors: Kunwar, P., Kachhwaha, T. S., Kumar, Anil, Agrawal, A. K., Singh, A. N., Mendiratta, Nisha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Current Science Association 25-01-2010
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Coniferous forests; Crops; Deciduous forests; Forest roads; Land use; Remote sensing; SPECIAL SECTION: HIMALAYAN BIO-GEO DATABASES–I; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable development; Wastelands
• ISSN: 0011-3891

Sustainable development has assumed utmost importance in view of the increasing demands on the finite natural resources due to increasing population and need to protect fragile environment. Remote sensing and GIS techniques have capability to assess the available natural resources and its use, and provide information for transformation of alternative landuse, if the resource is not optimally utilized in the development process. In the present study, current landuse/landcover has been studied and for optimal utilization of the available resources, alternate landuse has been suggested using remote sensing and GIS techniques in Phakot sub-watershed for sustainable development. For this purpose multi-temporal IKONOS satellite data have been used. About 889.49 ha area out of 1466 ha of the entire sub-watershed has been suggested for alternative landuse which is 60.7% of the total geographical area of the watershed. The transformed landuse has been recommended in various prescriptions such as double cropping/intensive agriculture, agrohorticulture, agroforestry, horticulture, afforestation/forest plantations, gap filling/forest protection and land mitigation by integrating available various natural resources in the study area.