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Question

Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?


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Solution

Answer:

Land is a natural resource of utmost and ultimate importance. Land supports each and everything. For example natural vegetation, wildlife, human life, economic activities, transport and communication systems. India has land under a variety of relief features, namely; mountains, plateaus, plains, islands and many more.

Land Utilization:

Land resources are used for many purposes. The purposes are mentioned below:

  • Forests
  • Land that is not available for cultivation
  • Fallow lands
  • Other uncultivated lands (excluding fallow land)
  • Net sown area

Land Use Pattern in India

The usage of land is determined by both physical and human factors.

  • Physical factors: It is dependent on nature variants such as topography, climate, soil types
  • Human factors: It completely relies on human activities and usage such as population density, technological capability and culture and traditions etc.

Explanation:

Because of the expansion of agricultural fields, the development of large dams, the construction of roads, and the construction of buildings in areas adjacent to forest lands, the land under forest area has not increased significantly.

  • The main utilization and usage of land is set on two different factors, physical and human. Physical factors include topography, climatic conditions depending upon the area, soil types Human factors comprises population density, technological capability and culture and traditions etc.
  • The pattern and follow up of the net sown area varies widely from one state to another.
  • It is mostly over 80 per cent of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and very less than 10 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
  • The total area occupied by forest is 33 per cent which is far lower than the estimated geographical area, which was outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952).
  • It was considered mandatory for the maintenance of the ecological balance.
  • Apart from this, land is termed as wasteland and land that is put up to other non-agricultural uses.
  • Wasteland mainly includes rocky, arid and desert areas and land put to other non-agricultural uses includes settlements, roads, railways, industry etc.
  • The repeated usage of land over a long period of time without taking adequate measures to conserve and manage has lead to degradation of land.

Measures to conserve land

Given below are some ways through which land degradation can be reduced and brought down to a minimum extent:

  • Afforestation
  • Proper and adequate methods of grazing
  • Planting a wide number of shelter belts of plants
  • Stabilization of sand dunes by harnessing thorny bushes
  • Proper management of wastelands by constructing public parks, play area for kids etc
  • Control and minimize the use of mining activities
  • Proper discharge methods of industrial effluents
  • Proper disposal of household waste which is generated in tons day by day

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