7. Multi-criteria Based Land and Water Resource Development Planning Using Geospatial Technologies

Holistic planning approach for judicious use of natural resources is critical for development in the current depreciating global climate scenario. Identification of suitable areas/sites for planning land and water conservation measures is critical for long-term management and sustainable development. Information of natural resources inventoried using very high-resolution satellite images when integrated using Geographical Information Systems will provide an appropriate planning tool for sustainable management of natural resources. Particularly, planning activities that are carried out by the integration of geospatial technologies such as remote sensing and GIS help in achieving sustainable development goals. In this study, land and water resources development plans were generated for Chharba Gram Panchayat (GP) of the Dehradun district, Uttarakhand state in Northern India. Long-term surface runoff potential for different meteorological conditions was analysed spatially over the study GP. Suitable sites for land and water management practices were identified using a multi-criterion decision-based approach. Various basic and derived thematic layers that include ground water prospects, terrain characteristics and soil distribution were included in the planning. Land use land cover information generated using high-resolution satellite data at 1:2000 scale is of great help for developmental planning. Water Resource Development plan indicated that nearly 0.6% (8.43 ha) and 8% (121 ha) of the area is suitable for check dams and farm ponds, respectively. The analysis revealed that this area under single cropped areas can be converted to intensive agricultural areas while nearly 35 ha area under agricultural plantations can be converted to agro horticulture. Further, land use under sparse scrub land can be converted to agroforestry. Thus, the suggested land and water resources development plans are expected to convert the existing land use pattern into more suitable categories as per its potential without jeopardizing the environment.