Abstract:
The amount, the rate and the intensity of land
use and land cover change are very prominent in least developing countries like
Nepal. The human impact upon the land is enormous and still increasing. This
study analyses the nexus between population dynamics and land-use practices in
Salakhu Khola watershed, a micro-watershed in the mid-hill region of Nepal. The
spatial and temporal change patterns of land use were quantified by
interpreting remote sensing (RS) data and use a geographical information system
(GIS). The paper mainly focuses on spatial and temporal changes in land use
between 1989 and 2006 in this typical watershed of Nepal where community forest
projects were implemented by the government 15 years ago. Time series data
regarding demographic and socio-economic parameters of the study area from
primary and secondary sources were also used. The dynamics of population, land
use, and land cover within the Salakhu Khola watershed are investigated by
performing spatial analysis of digital land use maps in ArcGIS. The results
show there is a significant increase in forest cover of 63 percent and
agricultural land of 8 percent in the watershed with a corresponding decrease
in shrubland and grassland during the length of 17 years. The number of people
living in the watershed has been reduced because of internal migration to the
plain areas and temporary labour migration to India and Gulf countries. The
annual rate of population growth is 1.62% in the study area. This has resulted
in significant reduction of grassland and shrubsland in the watershed area.
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