LAND RESOURCES, LAND USAGE CHANGE

 LAND RESOURCES AND LAND USE CHANGE

The term “land resources” encompasses the physical, biotic, environmental, infrastructural and socio-economic components of a natural land unit, including surface and near-surface freshwater resources. Land resources include hills, valleys, plains, wetlands, river basins, etc. Throughout history humans have derived all the resources for human development and survival from land, such as food, water, fuel, agriculture, grazing, fishing , mining, etc. Industrial revultion is based on resources we get from land resources- Gold, iron, coal, diamond and oil.

LAND USE CATEGORIES

Major land-use categories are:

1. Forests: It is important to note that area under actual forest cover is different from area classified as forest. The latter is the area which the Government has identified and demarcated for forest growth. The land revenue records are consistent with the latter definition. Thus, there may be an increase in this category without any increase in the actual forest cover.
2. Land put to Non-agricultural Uses: Land under settlements (rural and urban), infrastructure (roads, canals, etc.), industries, shops, etc. are included in this category. An expansion in the secondary and tertiary activities would lead to an increase in this category of land-use.
3. Barren and Wastelands: The land which may be classified as a wasteland such as barren hilly terrains, desert lands, ravines, etc. normally cannot be brought under cultivation with the available technology.
4. Area under Permanent Pastures and Grazing Lands: Most of this type land is owned by the village ‘Panchayat’ or the Government. Only a small proportion of this land is privately owned. The land owned by the village panchayat comes under ‘Common Property Resources
5. Area under Miscellaneous Tree Crops and Groves (Not included in Net sown Area) : The land under orchards and fruit trees are included in this category. Much of this land is privately owned.
6. Culturable Waste-Land: Any land which is left fallow (uncultivated) for more than five years is included in this category. It can be brought under cultivation after improving it through reclamation practices.
7. Current Fallow: This is the land that is left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year. Following is a cultural practice adopted for giving the land rest. The land recoups the lost fertility through natural processes.
8. Fallow other than Current Fallow: This is also a cultivable land which is left uncultivated for more than a year but less than five years. If the land is left uncultivated for more than five years, it would be categorized as culturable wasteland.
9. Net Area Sown: The physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested is known as net sown area.

LAND USE CHANGES

Land use pattern changes mainly due to the following reasons:

1. Building homes

2. Developing industries

3. For making towns & cities

4. Making roads, railways, airports etc.

5. Building dams