Land and water have been the basic Elements of life support system on our planet since the dawn of civilization.
All great civilizations, flourished where these resources were available in plenty and they declined or perished with the depletion of these resources.
In recent years, the land resource has been subjected to a variety of pressures. Still it is surviving and sustaining mankind.
What is alarming in the way land is being used is the tendency towards over-exploitation on account of a number of reasons leading this pristine resource being robbed of its resilience.
Of all the species on the earth, man is the chief culprit of this degradation. He views land in terms of its utility, meaning the capability to meet his perceived needs and wants.
The most easily categorised varieties of land from the utility point of view are – land fit for use, land with potential for use and land which appears useless at least in the foreseeable future.
Here probably lies the genesis of the problem of land degradation and erosion of Ecosystems. Mahatma Gandhi had said -“The Earth has enough for everybody’s need but not for everybody’s greed”.
Preserving, protecting and defending the land resources has been part of our age-old culture. The respect for the importance of land resources is best depicted in the conventional concept of Panchabhutas – land, water, fire, sky and air that constitute a set of divine forces.
There are innumerable examples of the traditional conservation practices and systems, which are still surviving and are effective. But with the advent of modern age and the advent of newer forces, this tradition is fast deteriorating mainly on account of – consumerism, materialistic value systems, short-term profit-driven Motives and greed of the users
Land Resources
The utilization of land depends upon physical factors like topography, Soil and Climate as well as upon human factors such as the density of Population duration of occupation of the area, land tenure and technical levels of the people.
LAND USE IN INDIA
The major land uses in India are:
Net sown Area
agriculture land means cultivated area, it includes net cropped area and fallow lands. Cropped area in the year under consideration in called net sown area.
India stands seventh in the world in terms of total geographical area but second in terms of cultivated land.
Net shown Area is about 46%.
Percentage wise Punjab and Haryana are highest and Arunachal Pradesh is Lowest (3.2% )
The net sown area and the area sown more than once together are called gross cultivated area.
Forest Area
This includes all land classified either as forest under any legal enactment, or administered as forest, whether State-owned or private, and whether wooded or maintained as potential forest land.
The area of crops raised in the forest and grazing lands or areas open for grazing within the forests remain included under the “forest area”.
Area under Non-agricultural Uses
This includes all land occupied by buildings, roads and railways or under water, e.g. rivers and canals, and other land put to uses other than agriculture.
This includes all land covered by Mountains, deserts, etc.
Land which cannot be brought under cultivation except at an exorbitant cost is classified as unculturable whether such land is in isolated blocks or within cultivated holdings.
Permanent Pasture and other Grazing Land
This includes all grazing land whether it is permanent pasture/meadows or not.
Village common grazing land is included under this category.
Land under Miscellaneous Tree Crops, etc.
This includes all cultivable land which is not included in ‘Net area sown’ but is put to some agricultural use.
Land under trees, thatching Grasses, bamboo bushes and other groves for fuel, etc. which are not included under ‘Orchards’ are classified under this category.
Culturable Waste Land
This includes land available for cultivation, whether taken up or not taken up for cultivation once, but not cultivated during the last five years or more in SUCCESSION including the current year for some reason or the other .
Such land may be either fallow or covered with shrubs and jungles which are not put to any use.
Fallow Lands other than Current Fallows -This includes all land which was taken up for cultivation but is temporarily out of cultivation for a period of not less than one year and not more than five years.
Current Fallows- This represents cropped area which is kept fallow during the current year
Policies, Acts, Programmes by Govt. on Land Resources
Ceiling on agricultural holdings and redistribution of surplus land
Updating and maintenance of land records
Consolidation of land holdings
Distribution of government wasteland
Drought-prone Areas Programme
Minimize adverse effects of droughts on the productivity of land, water and human resources
Promote overall Economic Development and improve the socio-economic condition of poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting the programme areas Capacity building and Empowerment of village community, ensuring participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions and NGOs in programme implementation at grassroots level and transfer of funds as well as decision-making power to the local people
Since 1995-96, a watershed development based approach has been adopted
Desert Development Programme (DDP)- 1977-78
Mitigate adverse effects of Desertification and adverse climatic conditions on crops, human and Livestock population
Restoration of ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing Natural Resources, i.e. land, water, vegetative cover, and raise land productivity
Capacity building and empowerment of village community, ensuring participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions and NGOs
1985 -National Land Use and Conservation Board
Formulate a national policy and perspective plan for conservation, management and development of land resources of the country
Review of the progress of implementation of ongoing schemes and programmes connected with conservation and development of land resources and soils
Take measures to restrict the conversion of good agricultural land to non– agricultural uses
Co-ordinate the work of State Land Use Boards
1985 National Wastelands Development Board (NWDB)
Formulate perspective plan and programmes for the management and development of wastelands in the country
Identify the wastelands in the country
Review the progress of implementation of programmes and schemes for the development of wasteland
Create a reliable data base and documentation centre on related aspects of wasteland development
1989-90 Integrated Wastelands Development Project (IWDP)
Adopt soil and moisture conservation measures such as terracing, bunding, trenching, vegetative barriers, etc
Encourage natural regeneration
Enhance people’s participation in wasteland development programmes at all stages resulting in equitable sharing of benefits
EMPLOYMENT generation, POVERTY alleviation, community empowerment and development of human and other economic resources of the village
Training, extension and creation of awareness among the participants
Strategies for Sustainable Land Management
Tenth Five-Year Plan assigns high priorities to area specific programmes such as watersheds, river valleys, arid areas, wastelands.
Public policies towards land use and the influence of subsequent land uses on natural resources
Coordinate the activities of all line departments and adopt an integrated approach
Expansion and intensification of irrigated agriculture
Weaknesses in land use policies as well as Options that are available to better address natural resource management and conservation issues in the interface
Establish the horizontal linkages between various agencies that are involved in land resource management
Involve the stakeholders from the planning stage onwards and address other socio-economic and poverty issues in land development programmes
The government would take the lead role in capacity building at the grassroot level by planning, implementing and monitoring integrated land resources management programmes
Intensification of high-quality rain-fed lands
land is not accounted for, especially when land quality deteriorates or the ecosystems functions change
Intensification of densely populated marginal lands
Increasing Women’s access to productive land by regularizing leasing and sharecropping of uncultivated agricultural land by women’s groups, encouraging collective efforts in bringing wastelands under cultivation and providing policy incentives to women in low-input subsistence agriculture, will have immediate benefits for women’s empowerment and household Food Security
Expansion of farming into sparsely populated marginal lands
The rise of urban and periurban farming with accelerated Urbanization
Natural resource managers and local planning officials need to understand the role each plays in protecting natural resources in the interface. In particular, natural resource managers need to better understand and influence public policies related to natural resources
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Land resources management is the process of planning and managing the use of land to meet human needs while protecting the Environment. It includes a wide range of activities, such as land use planning, soil conservation, water management, forest management, rangeland management, wetland management, urban planning, environmental impact assessment, land reclamation, land tenure, land valuation, land Taxation, land use zoning, land use regulation, land use conflict resolution, land use policy, land use planning Software, land use data, land use research, land use Education, land use advocacy, land use ethics, land use history, land use geography, land use economics, land use law, and land use policy.
Land use planning is the process of determining how land should be used. It involves identifying the needs of the community and developing a plan to meet those needs while protecting the environment. Land use planning can be used to guide the development of new communities, to protect natural resources, and to ensure that land is used in a sustainable manner.
Soil conservation is the practice of protecting soil from erosion, degradation, and contamination. It involves a variety of techniques, such as terracing, contour farming, and cover Cropping. Soil conservation is essential to maintaining the productivity of agricultural land and to protecting water quality.
Water management is the process of managing the use of water. It includes activities such as water supply, water treatment, wastewater treatment, and flood control. Water management is essential to ensuring that there is enough water for human needs, while also protecting the environment.
Forest management is the practice of managing forests for a variety of purposes, such as timber production, recreation, and watershed protection. Forest management involves a variety of techniques, such as harvesting, thinning, and prescribed burning. Forest management is essential to maintaining the Health of forests and to providing a variety of benefits to Society.
Rangeland management is the practice of managing rangelands for a variety of purposes, such as livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Rangeland management involves a variety of techniques, such as grazing management, fire management, and weed control. Rangeland management is essential to maintaining the health of rangelands and to providing a variety of benefits to society.
Wetland management is the practice of managing wetlands for a variety of purposes, such as flood control, water quality protection, and wildlife habitat. Wetland management involves a variety of techniques, such as restoration, creation, and mitigation. Wetland management is essential to maintaining the health of wetlands and to providing a variety of benefits to society.
Urban planning is the process of planning and managing the development of urban areas. It includes activities such as transportation planning, land use planning, and environmental planning. Urban planning is essential to ensuring that cities are developed in a way that meets the needs of the people who live in them, while also protecting the environment.
Environmental impact assessment is the process of evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project. It involves identifying the potential impacts, assessing their significance, and developing mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the impacts. Environmental impact assessment is an essential part of the planning process for any project that could have a significant impact on the environment.
Land reclamation is the process of restoring land that has been damaged or degraded. It can involve a variety of techniques, such as revegetation, soil remediation, and water management. Land reclamation is essential to restoring the productivity of land and to protecting the environment.
Land tenure is the system by which land is owned and used. It includes a variety of arrangements, such as private ownership, communal ownership, and state ownership. Land tenure is an important factor in land use planning and management.
Land valuation is the process of determining the value of land. It involves a variety of factors, such as the location of the land, its physical characteristics, and its potential uses. Land valuation is an essential part of land use planning and management.
Land taxation is the process of imposing taxes on land. The purpose of land taxation is to raise revenue for the government and to discourage the inefficient use of land. Land taxation is an important tool in land use planning and management.
Land use zoning is the process of dividing land into areas for different uses. It is used to regulate the development of land and to protect the environment. Land use zoning is an important tool in land use planning and management.
Land use regulation is the process of controlling the use of land. It involves a variety of techniques, such as zoning, subdivision regulations, and building codes. Land use regulation is an important tool in land use planning and management.
Land use conflict resolution is the process of resolving disputes over the use of land. It involves a variety of techniques, such as mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Land use conflict resolution is an important tool in land use planning and management.
Land use policy is the set of laws, regulations, and plans that govern the use of land. It is designed to meet the needs of society while protecting the environment.
What is land resources management?
Land resources management is the process of planning and managing the use of land to meet the needs of society while protecting the environment. It includes activities such as land use planning, soil conservation, and water management.
What are the benefits of land resources management?
Land resources management can provide a number of benefits, including:
What are some examples of land resources management practices?
Some examples of land resources management practices include:
Land use planning: This involves identifying the best uses for different areas of land and developing plans to manage those areas.
Soil conservation: This involves preventing soil erosion and degradation.
Water management: This involves managing Water Resources to ensure that they are used efficiently and effectively.
Forest management: This involves managing forests to ensure that they provide a variety of benefits, such as timber, recreation, and water quality protection.
Rangeland management: This involves managing rangelands to ensure that they provide a variety of benefits, such as grazing for livestock, wildlife habitat, and recreation.
Wetland management: This involves managing wetlands to ensure that they provide a variety of benefits, such as flood control, water purification, and wildlife habitat.
What are some of the most important issues in land resources management?
Some of the most important issues in land resources management include:
Climate change: Climate change is causing changes in temperature, Precipitation, and sea level, which are having a significant impact on land resources.
Population Growth: Population growth is putting a strain on land resources, as more people need food, water, and other resources.
Overuse of resources: Overuse of resources, such as water and soil, can lead to degradation and depletion of these resources.
Pollution: Pollution from human activities can contaminate land and water resources.
Conflict over land use: Conflict over land use can occur when different groups of people have different needs and wants for land.
What can be done to address the challenges of land resources management?
There are a number of things that can be done to address the challenges of land resources management, including:
Investing in research and development: This will help us to develop new technologies and practices that can help us to manage land resources more effectively.
Raising awareness: This will help people to understand the importance of land resources and the challenges that they face.
Promoting sustainable land use practices: This will help us to use land resources in a way that meets our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Investing in land conservation: This will help to protect land resources from degradation and depletion.
Addressing climate change: This will help to reduce the Impact Of Climate Change on land resources.
Managing land use conflicts: This will help to ensure that land is used in a way that benefits all stakeholders.
Which of the following is not a type of land resource? (A) Forests (B) Water (C) Soil (D) Air
Which of the following is not a threat to land resources? (A) Deforestation (B) Soil erosion (C) Air Pollution (D) Climate change
Which of the following is the best way to manage land resources? (A) Use them wisely and conserve them (B) Exploit them for economic gain (C) Leave them alone
Which of the following is not a benefit of managing land resources? (A) Increased food production (B) Reduced soil erosion (C) Improved water quality (D) Increased air pollution
Which of the following is the most important thing to consider when managing land resources? (A) The needs of the present generation (B) The needs of future generations (C) The needs of both the present and future generations
Which of the following is not a sustainable land management practice? (A) Rotating crops (B) Using cover crops (C) Overgrazing
Which of the following is the best way to prevent soil erosion? (A) Plant trees (B) Cover the soil with mulch (C) Leave the soil bare
Which of the following is the best way to improve water quality? (A) Reduce pollution (B) Conserve water (C) Both reduce pollution and conserve water
Which of the following is the best way to reduce air pollution? (A) Plant trees (B) Use RENEWABLE ENERGY sources (C) Both plant trees and use renewable energy sources
Which of the following is the best way to manage land resources for the benefit of both the present and future generations? (A) Use them wisely and conserve them (B) Exploit them for economic gain (C) Leave them alone
