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Geo-spatial Analysis of Lesser Himalayan Landscape For Characterizing Resource Utilization Pattern (Nainital Lake Region)
Mr. Nishant Arora
Research Associate,
Central Soil & Water conservation Research & Training Institute (ICAR), Dehradun
Dr. M.C. Porwal
Scientist (SF),
Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (NRSA), Dehradun.
1. Introduction
Nature has nourished life since its existence. From the very beginning life has sustained on the available resources, Human other then any other organism on the planet earth has always overburdened nature with their desire to extract much more than his requirement. It is because of him that today the world is facing the conflict of increasing population, resource degradation and resource depletion. Over utilization of watershed resources by the growing population has resulted in its degradation in most parts of the world (FAO, 1985). Exhaustive extraction of forest products, degradation of land resources and ever increasing population has not only effected the micro climatic conditions but also has lead to the degradation of the global environment to such an extent that it has created a threat to existence, it is thus important to measure, monitor and manage resources for their sustainable utilization.
In a country like India where population spearheaded with low economic status and small land holding poses a very high pressure on the natural resources and the situation is more worst in the hilly region of the country where terrain and inaccessibility are another constrain which force people to utilize and only extract what ever is accessible. Hence the tug war between the availability and the thriving requirement has lead ecological balance away from the state of equilibrium. It is therefore needed to check and introduce a sustainable resource utilization pattern.
Resource utilization pattern refers to the difference of resource utilization in terms of space, time, culture, group of people and environment; it is therefore necessary to understand the present status and predicting the change in the available resources. Sustainability of resource is to assure the availability for future use by utilizing resource only to such an extent that they do not get exhausted.
In recent years a new branch of space applications i.e. ”Remote Sensing” integrated with “Geographical Information System” has emerged as a powerful tool in researches oriented in developing geo-spatial criteria for better resource management practices. Satellite data provides accurate and repetitive data about the landscape and monitors the change over time. Geographical Information System aids in storing, updating and analyzing data and models the environmental parameters to make it user and location specific.
Most importantly, the integration of GIS and Remote Sensing (Geo-spatial Analysis) provides much broader perspective of how interactions between natural and human disturbances create complex patterns of change, each of which operates at different spatial and temporal scales.
The present study is thus an attempt to understand the dynamics of resource utilization pattern in the Lake watersheds of Nainital District, situated in the vicinity of Lower Himalayas.
2. Study area
Geographical Location
The study area "Nainital Lake region” comprises of seven lakes situated in the vicinity of the lower Himalayas. Sattal Lake, Khurpatal Lake, Bhimtal Lake, Naukachiatal Lake, Nal Damantital and Pannatal Lake, all are equally beautiful and attractive as the Naini lake. Region is spread over an area of 94 sq Kms, which marks the catchments of all the seven lakes. The average altitude varies from 600m~2600 m above msl. It lies between 29.24° N to 30.35° N and 79.27° E to 79.37° E respectively.
Climate
The study area experiences between subtropical to temperate climate on high elevation (more than 2000m). The mean annual temperature in summers ranges from 10.6O C to 26.7O C and in winters it varies from 2.8O C to 15.6O C. Rainfall begins earlier in the month of June and continues upto the end of September. Nainital records heavy rainfall in these months mainly because of the local rain. During winter, rains create a considerable fall in temperature. Snowfall is the heaviest in January or in early February. Frost is also experienced in winter season. Summer is pleasant and extends from April to June.
Geology
Nainital is situated in the Lower Himalayas and is the result of tectonic activities and the upliftment of sediments between Tibetan plane and the Indo-gangatic plane. The rock type mainly comprises of sedimentary rocks. Quartzite is the dominating rock type in the region.
Physiography
Physiographically the area can be divided into lower Himalayas and terraces.
Lower Himalayas
This type of physiography is found on less than 2000m above msl as well as northern and southern aspects. The slopes are mostly very steep and highly eroded
Terraces
River terraces are found in both the sides of Balia river and sub divide into two types as lower terraces and upper terraces. Lower terraces are formed by alluvium and upper terraces are formed by ‘in-situ’ parent material.
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