Remote sensing and GIS application to assess forest cover loss and its impact on gender relations : a case study in Jhadol, Udaipur district, India | |
| Author | Bohra, Alpana |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.SR-96-2 |
| Subject(s) | Deforestation--India--Udaipur Deforestation--Social aspects |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the course requirements for the degree of Master of Science. |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. SR-96-2 |
| Abstract | The Jhadol region used to provide higher density of tree cover along with a rich habitat. However, massive felling of trees, and increasing demand for timber, fuel wood, fodder, had caused severe strain on the eco-system.sufficient quantity of fuel, fodder. Due to the massive felling of trees, drndgery of women in collecting firewood had increase in villages. They have to travel long distances now to collect their headload of firewood. Since firewood gathers are mainly tribals and women folk, deforestation has hit them the most. The hill people in general and tribals in particular depend mostly on forest habitat. The over-exploitation of natural resource has caused degradation of environment on accelerated rate. The hill people are poorest among the poor in the country, having no ownership rights on the forest lands and forest products, as most of these belongs to the government. The economic condition of these people is most precarious. Alarming deforestation has accelerated the process of soil erosion in the Zhadol area. Consequently, the Jhadol hill areas have been deprived of rich forests and pasture lands. This situation has cause drastic changes in the nature of rainfall, reducing sharply the number of rainy days, change in temperature and resulting into environmental degradation. To assess deforestation and its impact on gender in meeting the challenges of fuel, the extent of deforestation the present study entitled " Remote Sensing and GIS Application to Assess Forest Cover Loss and Its Impact on Gender Relations was undertaken. The aims of the study were to explore the use of RS and GIS Techniques in analyzing the forest cover loss and reasons of deforestation and analysis the socio economic condition of the region. The study was conducted in eight villages of Jhadol thesil. The major focus was given to three gram panchayat Khakhar, Amod, and Magwas. The multi-date data of 1988 and 1995 were selected to assess the forest cover loss and GIS is integrated to analysis the change detection during seven years. The sample consisted of 124 respondents in which male and female both were interviewed to collect data for socio-economic condition of that area and the reasons and problems of deforestation. In the year 1988 a major area falls under dense forest but in 1995 large portion of forest land has been converted to degraded forest barren land and agriculture. The reduction is due to the increase in livestocks as well as in human population which puts heavy pressure on the exploiting natural resources. The rapid decline in forest area has led to removal of the top fertile soil cover, lowering the water level, decline soil fertility. The Jhadol region used to provide sufficient quantity of fuel, fodder and timber to the people. But due to the massive felling of trees, drudgery of women in collecting firewood had increased in specially Khakhar, Magwas, and Dheekliya villages. They have to travel long distances now to collect their headload of firewood. It is visualized that in recent past 10 years with decreasing fuelwood supply from forests more families have started using commercial fuels like coal, gas and kerosene and the dependence on fuelwood is declining. Some of the families have been stopped fetching firewood. It also leads to change in cooking habits which again affects the family health. Forests are dramatically shrinking from 1988 to 1995 in the Jhadol region. Earlier forest was the main sources of providing major and minor forest products and were earning their livelihood by collecting forest products. Denudation of forest has adversely affected the availability of forest products especially in Khakar, Magwas and Dheekliya and caused miseries. So due to the deforestation it affects the socio-economic condition of the people. Males are migrating in search of waged job to improve their socio-economic condition. Deforestation has converted their land in waste land. There is no irrigation facilities and area is also rainfed and having small land holding so not much income from farm also. This lead more burden on women. Earlier when there was plenty of forest, there was not problem of soil erosion and people are totally depending on farming but deforestation has changes their occupation. Most of the ethnic groups are working in mines, and road relief work and doing laborer work. With the increase of alarming deforestation, the area under wastelands has increased significantly in Khakhar and Magwas. Which adversely affects the productivity in the fields and consequently increased the poverty level. So there is an urgent need for evolving a suitable strategy for the development of existing wastelands and controlling the new wastelands and promoting the afforestation program and generation of employment opportunities. |
| Year | 1996 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. SR-96-2 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Space Technology Application and Research (SR) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kelkar, Govind; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Delsol, Jean Pierre;Andrianasolo, Raja; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Government of Netherlands.; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1996 |