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resources regions or Composite Land Development
Units (CLDU), and their spatial distribution, potential
and limitations for sustained agriculture and other
uses; and development of an integration key. The
first step is accomplished by superimposing
individual thematic map over another manually and
identifying CLDUs. This could also be done by
digitizing/ scanning all the thematic maps and
studying them subsequently in a GIS environment.
Each CLDU is studied carefully in the light of
various natural resources and socio-economic and
climatic conditions and a specific land use and/soil
and water conservation practice are suggested
based on its sustainability. Subsequently, taking
landform as a base an integration key in terms of
potential/limitations of soils, present land use/land
cover, and ground water potential; and suggested
alternate land use/action plan is developed.
6.2.3 Implementation of Action Plan
The action plan and/alternate land use practices
emerging from aforesaid approach are implemented
by the implementing agencies in the district. The
state-of-the-art technology available for each action
item is used in order to fully exploit the
contemporary research and developments in the
field of agriculture, science and technology. While
implementing the action plan the aspiration of the
local people obtained through a process called
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is given utmost
importance. Initially, a micro watershed of 500 -
600 ha is identified by the district/block authorities
based on developmental priority and the operational
aspects of each activity under action plan is studied
carefully. Since most of the land except for
common land/government land belongs to
cultivators/individuals, for implementation of action
plan information on each land holding which is
available in cadastral maps (large scale village
maps) is required. For this purpose, cadastral map
boundaries are digitized/scanned and overlaid onto
satellite data. The individual field where a specific
action plan is recommended could be identified by
superimposing action plan map over
digitized/scanned cadastral maps. The progress of
the implementation is monitored by an expert
committee constituted by the state government for
each state/district.
6.3 Impact Assessment
After implementation of suggested action plan for
land and water resources development, the area
undergoes transformation which could be monitored
regularly. Such exercise not only helps studying
the impact of the programme but also enables
resorting to midcourse correction, if required.
Parameters included under monitoring activities are
land use/land cover, extent of irrigated area,
vegetation density and condition; fluctuation of
ground water table, well density and yield, cropping
pattern and crop yield, occurrence of hazards and
socio-economic conditions. Included under land
use/land cover parameters are: changes in the
‘number and areal extent of surface water bodies,
spatial extent of forest and other plantations,
wastelands and cropped area. The vegetation
density and vigor have been assessed using
vegetation index (VI) generated from IRS 1A/1B
LISS-I! data.
7. CONCLUSIONS
Sustainable development attempts to balance the
often conflicting ideals of economic growth and
maintaining environmental quality and viability.
Remote sensing provides a reliable base for
generating information natural resources, and for
monitoring the success and progress of
developmental activities. GIS provides an ideal
environment for integration of information on natural
resources and ancillary information and generation
of action plan taking into account social, cultural
and economic needs of the people. Implementation
of such action plan could be achieved through
Participatory Rural Appraisal Programme.
High spatial resolution (<2m), data satellite data
from Quick Bird, Eye Glass and IKONOS-1&2, and
from future generation of IRS series of satellites,
namely IRS-P5 and IRS-P6 may help generating
large scale thematic maps on natural resources and
would enable objective monitoring of the
developments resulting from implementation of the
action plan.
REFERENCES
1. UNEP/ISR1C 1991. Global Assessment of Soil
Degradation (GLASOD), Nairobi, Wageningen.
2. Schlippe, P.De., 1956. Shifting cultivation in
Africa. Routledge and Kepan, London.
3. Conklin, H.C., 1957. Hanunoo Agriculture, FAO,
Forestry Development Paper, No. 12, FAO, Rome,
pp. 109.
4. Anonymous, 1976. Report of the National
Commission on Agriculture, Parts V, IX and
Abridged Report. Ministry of Agriculture and
Irrigation, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
5. Szabolcs, |., 1992. Salinization of soil and water ,
and its relation to desertification. Desertification
Control Bulletin, No. 21, pp.32-37.
6. Das, D.C. 1985. Problem of soil erosion and
land degradation in India. Lead paper National
Intemational Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 7, Budapest, 1998 161
