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Specific Problems Of The Area
Though the study area has 56% under forest cover and has bountiful of vegetation/greenery with an annual average rainfall of 1800- 2000 mm the fragile ecosystems is under threat due to biotic pressure/human activities and improper landuse practices. The major issues

1. Degradation of shola forest and grassland
2. forest fire/encroachment
3. Landslides and
4. Biotic pressure.

In the present study an attempt has been made to identify the areas affected by Improper Landuse Practice and suggest remedial measures using an integrated approach.

Landuse practices in conflict with the terrain
The major problem of the area is the improper landuse practices, which has caused severe damage to the fragile environment. It is observed that annual crops (vegetable crops like cabbage, potato, carrot, etc.) and agricultural plantations such as tea are grown on all slopes. This type of landuse practices have resulted heavy soil erosion land degradation and siltation of streams/rivers/reservoirs.

Annual cropped areas remain fallow for about 6 month in a year and these areas on high slopes are the most vulnerable to soil erosion especially during rainy season (the area receives heavy rainfall). It is estimated that about 40 tons/ha/year is the soil loss from the above areas. In potato growing areas, the tilling is done along slopes to avoid brown rotting of potato but due to this the soil erosion is further accelerated. The main agricultural plantation of the area is tea and is seen on all slopes and on all types of terrain. Contrary to the belief that lush green tea estates does not cause any land degradation, it is observed that during the initial 4 years of new tea plantation (till the tea bushes come up) the soil loss is estimated to be around 3 tons/ha/year. Tea plantations without adequate two and three-tier tree cover (silver oak etc.,) are found to be causing soil erosion. Tea plantation in valley region is many times damaged by frost. Majority of the tea estates and annual cropped areas are earlier grasslands and shola forest and had kept the fragile environment of the area in balance.

Degradation of shola forests and grasslands
These two land cover types are unique of the Nilgiris district. Evergreen shola forests are the vital zones for groundwater discharge - source of origin of many springs/perennial streams. In many areas the shola forests are cut and the area have been converted into tea estates, commercial plantations like wattle etc. and in some areas the shola are cut for firewood. Similarly the grasslands are also getting affected by indiscriminate and large scale grazing by the large number of cattle, and also transformation of grasslands into tea estates, commercial (Wattle eucalyptus etc.) plantations, and for agricultural activities. Both sholas and grasslands i.e. the original land cover of Nilgiris are significant in terms of bio-diversity and prevention of soil erosion/land degradation.

Database Creation
The entire area has been photographed on 1:6000 scale, the photos have been rectified and orthophotos and Contour maps are prepared on 1:5000 scale. These maps are used for the preparation of various thematic maps such as, Geomorphology, Landuse, Soil, Drainage. Extensive control surveys have been conducted using differential GPS, for generating Orthophoto maps and Contour maps.
These are following seven classes:

Sl.No	Slope Class in %	Description
1	0-1	Nearly level
2	1-3	Very gentle sloping
3	3-5	Gently sloping
4	5-10	Moderately sloping
5	10-15	Strongly sloping
6	15-35	Moderately Steep to Steep sloping
7	> 35	Very steep sloping

These slope classes were regrouped as per the slope-based zonation. Slope Class vs. Landuse practices (ie particular slope class is suitable for specific type of landuse activity). The regrouped classes are:

1. 0-10% - Nearly level to moderately sloping
2. 10-33% - Moderately to steep sloping
3. > 33% - Very steep sloping

Watershed Boundary map
Since, watershed forms a basic unit for better planning management and development of land and water resources it was essential and necessary to delineate the watershed boundaries. Watershed management is considered to be the most effective system for the conservation development and management of soil water and other land resources on a sustainable basis. Therefore watershed has been taken as the unit of development and is managed as per the potentiality capability and suitability of the land

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