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Towards sustainable development of natural resources -A participatory approach using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques
Sathish, A1., Muniyappa, N.C2. and Prabhakar, K.S3
Sujala Watershed Project, Watershed Development Department,
Cauvery Bhavan, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
E-mail:a_sathish@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT
The major issues to be tackled in conserving and efficient management of the natural resources are erosion, moisture conservation, impounding rain water and overall water resource development of the area. Space - borne remotely sensed data have been extensively used to map and monitor land and water resources. In order to evaluate different resources present on earth's surface in an integrated and multidisciplinary way Geographic Information System (GIS) has emerged as an important tool. Hence in an integrated approach under World Bank assisted Sujala Watershed Project in Karnataka, India, the land use, soil, slope, groundwater potential and other relevant themes are derived using remote sensing and GIS to understand the resource potentials and limitations. The information was utilized for preparing an integrated resource development plan which includes soil and water conservation measures such as boulder/ rubble/ vegetative check, check dam, farm pond, nala bund and contour bund and overall biomass development. The scheme is being implemented as participatory watershed programme with the active involvement of all stake holders.
INTRODUCTION
The growing pressure on land for food, fuel, fiber and fodder due to burgeoning population have resulted in competing and conflicting demands on finite natural resources. An estimated 175 million hectares of land in India, constituting about 53 per cent of total geographical area suffers from the land degradation process. For a country which supports 15 per cent of world population on 2 per cent of global land area, the problem is serious enough. The water and land resources need to be developed, utilized and managed in a holistic approach.
In Karnataka, dryland farming is practiced in about 78 per cent of the net cultivated area, crop production in these areas is critically dependent on uncertain and erratic rainfall. With land degradation, low soil fertility, lack of infrastructure facilities relating to processing and marketing in rural areas, improper management of common lands, frequent occurrence of drought, shortage of drinking water and assured irrigation to crops, the productivity levels are gradually declining.
In order to overcome these constraints and problems, integrated watershed development approach is adopted in Karnataka with the assistance from World Bank. By following appropriate soil and water conservation measures in the catchment with optimal harvesting of runoff, initiation of recharging mechanisms with proper exit protocol, further spread of land degradation can be minimized which in turn improves soil fertility and drinking water problem to a considerable extent. Through proper awareness programmes and inter departmental linkages, marketing mechanisms can be provided.
In reality however, gross neglect of recharge and overexploitation of under groundwater resource has generally led to continuous dipping in the dynamic water table in most of the places. While increased protective irrigation of rain fed land is absolutely essential for achieving higher yields, it is important to recognize that groundwater irrigation is roughly twice as efficient as surface water or canal irrigation. The major issues to be tackled in conserving and efficient management of these natural resources are erosion, drainage, irrigation, moisture conservation, impounding rain water and overall water resource development of the area.
Hence in an integrated approach, the land use, soil, slope, climate and other relevant parameters are considered for suggesting the integrated resource development plan which is called Sujala Watershed Action Plan (SWAP) showing soil and water conservation measures and perennial crop cover in the area by planning appropriate agro forestry, agro horticulture and pastural systems.
Fig.1 Jurisdictional outline of watersheds under Sujala watershed project
Data used:
1. Watershed prioritization and characterization:
Watershed prioritization
It is always better to start management measures from the highest priority sub watershed. That is from technical sustainability point of view treatment of watershed should start from ridge to valley. Watershed prioritization is, thus, the ranking of different sub watersheds according to the order in which they have to be taken up for treatment. High priority is one which has abundant severity problems like erosion, gravelliness, sub surface drainage etc, need immediate treatment for arresting further spread of gullies and to control the accelerated surface soil erosion, Medium priority areas are those with moderate problems, where certain measures are implemented and low priority is one where minor problems of soil erosion, soil depth, soil texture are noticed and can be gradually treated depending on the resources.
Watershed prioritization has been done using satellite remote sensing data (IRS 1D (LISS III) - 23.5 m2 spatial resolution and IRS 1D (PAN + L3) - 5.8 m2 spatial resolution) as the main input. Available summer season data was used to know the area under waste lands, degraded lands, soil types etc. Density of vegetation reflects the natural resource potential of watershed. This is assessed using satellite data, here higher the density of vegetation, lower will be the priority.
Criteria adopted in Prioritization are:
1. Waste lands: These are described as degraded lands which can be brought under vegetative cover with reasonable effort and which is currently under utilized and deteriorating due to lack of appropriate soil and water conservation measures. The waste lands are identified based on the tonal variations observed on image due to lack of vegetative cover.
2. Dry lands: These are mainly single cropped areas, which are not supported by any irrigation source and are delineated using two season satellite data.
3. Problematic soils: The problematic soils include gullied lands, lands affected by salinity or alkalinity, etc. These are identified on satellite image through variations in tone, texture and association.
4. Rainfall: The areas which receives lower annual rainfall is given top priority when compared to the areas which receive normal annual rainfall. This was assessed based on the rainfall data collected for the preceding 10 years.
5. Forest or vegetation cover: The sustenance of forest cover is mainly related with soil properties, rainfall and other climatic conditions. The density of vegetation cover or forest is identified in the form of vegetation index through satellite data. If the vegetation index is low, then such areas are identified as high priority areas, which require immediate treatment.
Watershed characterization The response of a particular watershed to different hydrological processes and its behavior depends upon various physiographic, hydro geological and geomorphological parameters. Though these are watershed specific and thereby unique, the characterization of a watershed provides an idea about its natural resource status. Watershed characterization thus involves measurement of parameters that influence the characteristic behavior of a watershed, whereas analysis aims at the critical study of these parameters to arrive at conclusions on watershed response and behavior. Watershed characterization involves essentially inventory and mapping of natural resources.
3. Integrated resources development plan
Fig. 10 Sujala watershed action plan
4. Monitoring and evaluation of watersheds: As the watershed development programme is an integrated and multidisciplinary approach implemented by spending considerable amount of money, monitoring of programme becomes an important component. It is necessary to assess and evaluate the long-term effects and the impact of the developmental activities. Satellite Remote sensing data plays a vital role in this aspect by depicting the status of watershed before and after implementation of developmental programmes, indicating the change detection and its impact on environment through comparison of images acquired for the same area. The monitoring and evaluation study thus would provide an insight into the impact of developmental activities in the watershed and also provide feedback for mid corrections.
Fig.11 Monitoring of watershed activities through GIS
Conclusion
Since the sustainable development of natural resources is based on maintaining a fragile balance between productivity functions and conservation practices through monitoring and identification of problem areas, remote sensing and GIS makes the task easy. Through these measures, the productivity in rainfed areas could be enhanced to meet the demand of ever increasing population. With participatory approach, the plan can be implemented to derive the desired benefit in an effective manner, this is evident from the sujala watershed project in the first phase, which is nearing completion by September 2005.
Acknowledgement
The work carried out in the project is mainly through people's participation, hence the credit should go to the farming community who has made it possible in utilizing the technology in natural resource management. Thanks to all the Departmental staff and partners who are part of the project.
References
Sathish, A1., Muniyappa, N.C2. and Prabhakar, K.S3
Sujala Watershed Project, Watershed Development Department,
Cauvery Bhavan, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
E-mail:a_sathish@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT
The major issues to be tackled in conserving and efficient management of the natural resources are erosion, moisture conservation, impounding rain water and overall water resource development of the area. Space - borne remotely sensed data have been extensively used to map and monitor land and water resources. In order to evaluate different resources present on earth's surface in an integrated and multidisciplinary way Geographic Information System (GIS) has emerged as an important tool. Hence in an integrated approach under World Bank assisted Sujala Watershed Project in Karnataka, India, the land use, soil, slope, groundwater potential and other relevant themes are derived using remote sensing and GIS to understand the resource potentials and limitations. The information was utilized for preparing an integrated resource development plan which includes soil and water conservation measures such as boulder/ rubble/ vegetative check, check dam, farm pond, nala bund and contour bund and overall biomass development. The scheme is being implemented as participatory watershed programme with the active involvement of all stake holders.
INTRODUCTION
The growing pressure on land for food, fuel, fiber and fodder due to burgeoning population have resulted in competing and conflicting demands on finite natural resources. An estimated 175 million hectares of land in India, constituting about 53 per cent of total geographical area suffers from the land degradation process. For a country which supports 15 per cent of world population on 2 per cent of global land area, the problem is serious enough. The water and land resources need to be developed, utilized and managed in a holistic approach.
In Karnataka, dryland farming is practiced in about 78 per cent of the net cultivated area, crop production in these areas is critically dependent on uncertain and erratic rainfall. With land degradation, low soil fertility, lack of infrastructure facilities relating to processing and marketing in rural areas, improper management of common lands, frequent occurrence of drought, shortage of drinking water and assured irrigation to crops, the productivity levels are gradually declining.
In order to overcome these constraints and problems, integrated watershed development approach is adopted in Karnataka with the assistance from World Bank. By following appropriate soil and water conservation measures in the catchment with optimal harvesting of runoff, initiation of recharging mechanisms with proper exit protocol, further spread of land degradation can be minimized which in turn improves soil fertility and drinking water problem to a considerable extent. Through proper awareness programmes and inter departmental linkages, marketing mechanisms can be provided.
In reality however, gross neglect of recharge and overexploitation of under groundwater resource has generally led to continuous dipping in the dynamic water table in most of the places. While increased protective irrigation of rain fed land is absolutely essential for achieving higher yields, it is important to recognize that groundwater irrigation is roughly twice as efficient as surface water or canal irrigation. The major issues to be tackled in conserving and efficient management of these natural resources are erosion, drainage, irrigation, moisture conservation, impounding rain water and overall water resource development of the area.
Hence in an integrated approach, the land use, soil, slope, climate and other relevant parameters are considered for suggesting the integrated resource development plan which is called Sujala Watershed Action Plan (SWAP) showing soil and water conservation measures and perennial crop cover in the area by planning appropriate agro forestry, agro horticulture and pastural systems.
Fig.1 Jurisdictional outline of watersheds under Sujala watershed project
Data used:
- Survey of India toposheets: 1:50,000 scale
- Satellite imagery
- IRS 1D (LISS III) - 23.5 m2 spatial resolution
- IRS 1D (PAN + L3) - 5.8 m2 spatial resolution
1. Watershed prioritization and characterization:
Watershed prioritization
It is always better to start management measures from the highest priority sub watershed. That is from technical sustainability point of view treatment of watershed should start from ridge to valley. Watershed prioritization is, thus, the ranking of different sub watersheds according to the order in which they have to be taken up for treatment. High priority is one which has abundant severity problems like erosion, gravelliness, sub surface drainage etc, need immediate treatment for arresting further spread of gullies and to control the accelerated surface soil erosion, Medium priority areas are those with moderate problems, where certain measures are implemented and low priority is one where minor problems of soil erosion, soil depth, soil texture are noticed and can be gradually treated depending on the resources.
Watershed prioritization has been done using satellite remote sensing data (IRS 1D (LISS III) - 23.5 m2 spatial resolution and IRS 1D (PAN + L3) - 5.8 m2 spatial resolution) as the main input. Available summer season data was used to know the area under waste lands, degraded lands, soil types etc. Density of vegetation reflects the natural resource potential of watershed. This is assessed using satellite data, here higher the density of vegetation, lower will be the priority.
Criteria adopted in Prioritization are:
1. Waste lands: These are described as degraded lands which can be brought under vegetative cover with reasonable effort and which is currently under utilized and deteriorating due to lack of appropriate soil and water conservation measures. The waste lands are identified based on the tonal variations observed on image due to lack of vegetative cover.
2. Dry lands: These are mainly single cropped areas, which are not supported by any irrigation source and are delineated using two season satellite data.
3. Problematic soils: The problematic soils include gullied lands, lands affected by salinity or alkalinity, etc. These are identified on satellite image through variations in tone, texture and association.
4. Rainfall: The areas which receives lower annual rainfall is given top priority when compared to the areas which receive normal annual rainfall. This was assessed based on the rainfall data collected for the preceding 10 years.
5. Forest or vegetation cover: The sustenance of forest cover is mainly related with soil properties, rainfall and other climatic conditions. The density of vegetation cover or forest is identified in the form of vegetation index through satellite data. If the vegetation index is low, then such areas are identified as high priority areas, which require immediate treatment.
Watershed characterization The response of a particular watershed to different hydrological processes and its behavior depends upon various physiographic, hydro geological and geomorphological parameters. Though these are watershed specific and thereby unique, the characterization of a watershed provides an idea about its natural resource status. Watershed characterization thus involves measurement of parameters that influence the characteristic behavior of a watershed, whereas analysis aims at the critical study of these parameters to arrive at conclusions on watershed response and behavior. Watershed characterization involves essentially inventory and mapping of natural resources.
- Drainage and micro watershed delineation: The drainage lines are extracted from SOI toposheets and overlaid on satellite imagery. Based on the presence of vegetation and water course some of the primary drains which were not observed in the toposheets are delineated. Water bodies of recent development are also updated by comparing 3 season satellite images.
- Cadastral map: The village maps are procured from Land Records and Survey Settlement Department, the villages coming under one sub watershed are scanned. After scanning, maps are subjected for geo referencing using 1:12,500 scale satellite images. Further mosaicing, digitization, attribute additions and boundary demarcation of these maps are done. Since the project is planned and implemented in each parcel of land, the cadastral map serves as a base for other resource themes.
Fig 3. Cadastral map
- Slope: It is prepared using the contour information from SOI toposheet (1:50,000 scale) and enlarged to 1:12,500 scale. The major slope classes delineated are nearly level, very gently sloping, gently sloping, moderately sloping, strongly sloping and steep sloping. The slope and aspect information is essential for delineating watershed boundary, planning soil and water conservation measures and for taking alternate land use practices.
Fig 4. Slope map
- Soil resource inventory and mapping: Soils are vital natural resources on whose proper use, depend the life-supporting system of an area and the socio-economic development of its people. For sustained utilization of soil resources, it is imperative to know the nature, characteristics and extent of distribution of different soils, their qualities, potentials and limitations. Soils are characterized, classified and evaluated for the suitability of land for a given use on the basis of a matching exercise between the growth and production requirements of the crop, and the physical or socio-economic conditions of the land and its users. The use of remote sensing data enables to map the soil boundaries accurately at relatively low cost and time. Thus making available the soil resource potential and limitations of an area well in advance to take up suitable measures for improving the productivity.
Soil map showing soil colour, texture, depth, erosion status, major limitations and land capability classes is prepared mainly by using the relationship between physiography and soils. Here major physiographic units are demarcated based on the contour information obtained from SOI toposheets on 1:50,000 Scale. The major physiographic units like hills and ridges, Mounds, rolling lands, undulating lands, gently sloping lands, very gently sloping lands and valleys are further sub divided based on the tonal variations on satellite image. Depending on the distribution and extent of these units, transects are selected, soil profiles are opened for analyzing morphological and chemical properties. Finally these physiographic units are converted into soil units.
Fig 5. Soil map
- Ground water potential assessment: Remote sensing techniques play a vital role in preparing water resource development plan when used in the preliminary stages of the survey, the technique helps in delineating potential areas of water bearing where further exploration work could be taken up. Thus drastically reducing the cost and time involved in water exploration. Satellite imagery have been found to be particularly useful in identifying linear features such as lineaments, fractures, faults, folds, etc., which are ideal localizers of ground water sinks. Besides this information, the drainage pattern and drainage density, which have a bearing on the recharge conditions and permeability of the rocks. Satellite data thus offers a unique tool for extrapolating information on geology, geomorphology, drainage, land use and soils which are essential in identifying the possible locations or zones of occurrence of ground water.
The groundwater potential map is prepared by obtaining the contour information from SOI toposheets, geomorphology, geology and tonal variations in the satellite imagery. The geomorphic units are then correlated with the ground water potential zones.
Fig 6. Groundwater potential map
- Land use/ Land cover analysis: The present land use/land cover map is prepared (based on the photo interpretation keys namely colour, tone, texture, association, size, shape etc ) using 3 season (kharif, summer and rabi) satellite data coupled with minimum field work, assessment of the extent and distribution of different land use / land cover areas are made. The major categories like Kharif, double crop, Rabi, plantations, scrub land, gullied land, forest plantations, etc. are delineated.
Fig.7 Land use / land cover map
3. Integrated resources development plan
- Agriculture Action Plan
Integrated resources development is a comprehensive action programme aimed at optimal utilization of resource potentials. Such an objective can be attained through development of land, water, vegetation and other resources of an area in a sustainable manner so that the changes proposed to meet the needs of people are brought about without diminishing the potential for future. With the developments in satellite technology and data availability considerable progress has been made towards effective utilization of the available data for conservation, monitoring and management of natural resources.
Integration of different thematic maps like Soil, Hydro geomorphology, Slope, Present land use / land cover along with collateral data like Socio-economic data, Demand and supply, Meteorological data in GIS domain helps to generate database for planning quick remedial measures and permanent solutions to combat drought and other typical problems like drinking water, fodder and food grains through Agriculture resource development plan showing alternate land use practices like Intensive agriculture, Agro-horticulture, Agro-forestry, Fodder and fuel wood plantation etc.
Fig.8 Agriculture resource action plan
- Water Resources Action Plan
The information on slope and soils along with drainage pattern is used to prepare Water resources development plan showing locations for water harvesting structures and soil conservation practices. These measures reduce the velocity of runoff, soil erosion and increase the infiltration. In addition desiltation of tanks, use of efficient irrigation systems and exploitation of groundwater in potential zones are also given priority after detailed field survey and study of hydro geomorphology map.
Fig.9 Water resource action plan
- Sujala Watershed Action Plan(SWAP): Preparation of Sujala Watershed Action Plan is an important stage in the project. The community based organizations are given trainings to know the utility of resource maps in watershed planning well before the actual planning is made. The technical team for planning comprises of specialists from agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry and water resources along with the field non governmental organization representatives and the respective farmer. With the adoption of bottom-up approach, the planning process starts at land parcel of each farmer in the Area Group (a group consisting of 30-40 farmers in the same mini micro catchment). The groups visit each parcel of the land along with the satellite based resource maps, observe the resource potentials and limitations, respective farmer puts forward an activity after deliberating with the group, then the technical team analyses the feasibility and the activity will be considered under the plan. Similarly, for entire micro watershed, the activities such as soil and water conservation measures, horticulture, forestry and livestock are planned. In order to facilitate smooth SWAP preparation at micro watershed level, a customized bilingual and user friendly software package (SUKRIYA) has been developed.
Fig. 10 Sujala watershed action plan
4. Monitoring and evaluation of watersheds: As the watershed development programme is an integrated and multidisciplinary approach implemented by spending considerable amount of money, monitoring of programme becomes an important component. It is necessary to assess and evaluate the long-term effects and the impact of the developmental activities. Satellite Remote sensing data plays a vital role in this aspect by depicting the status of watershed before and after implementation of developmental programmes, indicating the change detection and its impact on environment through comparison of images acquired for the same area. The monitoring and evaluation study thus would provide an insight into the impact of developmental activities in the watershed and also provide feedback for mid corrections.
Fig.11 Monitoring of watershed activities through GIS
Conclusion
Since the sustainable development of natural resources is based on maintaining a fragile balance between productivity functions and conservation practices through monitoring and identification of problem areas, remote sensing and GIS makes the task easy. Through these measures, the productivity in rainfed areas could be enhanced to meet the demand of ever increasing population. With participatory approach, the plan can be implemented to derive the desired benefit in an effective manner, this is evident from the sujala watershed project in the first phase, which is nearing completion by September 2005.
Acknowledgement
The work carried out in the project is mainly through people's participation, hence the credit should go to the farming community who has made it possible in utilizing the technology in natural resource management. Thanks to all the Departmental staff and partners who are part of the project.
References
- Anonymous, 1994, Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development. Satellite remote sensing, Bulletin, DOS, Hyderabad
- Dwivedi , R.S., Reddy, P.R., Sreenivas, K. and Ravishankar, G., 1999, A Remote sensing and GIS based integrated approach for sustainable development of land and water resources. Proc. ISRS Natn. symp., Jan. 19-21, 1999, Bangalore: pp 352-360.
- Murthy, R.S., Hirekerur, L.R., Deshpande, S.B., Venkata Rao, B.V. and Shankaranarayana, H.S., 1982, Benchmark soils of India, NBSS & LUP, ICAR.
- Prabhakar, K.S., Ramesh, K.S. Lingaraju,Y. and Heged, V.S, 1991, Characterization of watershed using IRS data- a case study covering Hesaraghatta catchment. Proc. workshop on Indian remote sensing satellite mission and its applications, Oct.25, 1991, Bangalore.
- Rao. U.R, 1991, Remote sensing for sustainable development. Photonirvachak, J. Indian Soc. of remote sensing, 19(4): 217-235.
- Sathish, A., 1999, Remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applications in soil and agriculture resoureces management - a case study of Bethamangala watershed. Msc (Agri.) thesis submitted to USA, Bangalore.
- Venkataramana, G, 2001, A Strategy of sustainable development of typical watersheds using remote sensing and conventional techniques. Proc. of ICORG-2000, Vol. II, 2-5th Feb. 2001, Hyderabad: pp 184-190.