DEGREE, EXTENT AND TREATMENT OF DESERTIFICATION HAZARDS IN INDIA

Land degradation is a dynamic process. It is the result of both- natural and bioticforces operating on the earth. Natural calamities, viz, earthquakes, floods and droughts etc,over-exploitation of land resources, unwise land use and the consequences of high inputsagriculture on soil and environment are of great concern that sensitized the internationalbodies to combat land degradation and desertification in both developed and developingcountries. Development of degraded lands in India is one of the options available to enhancefood production and to restore the fragile eco-system. The scientific information and spatialdistribution of various kinds of degraded lands is thus essential for formulation of strategicplan to arrest the menace of land degradation. The statistics on degraded lands published bydifferent and non- governmental agencies not only vary widely but the nomenclature ofdegraded lands also differs considerably. It thus, necessitates rapid inventorying of degradedlands to generate realistic database on degraded lands using remote sensing techniques in thecountry as a first step of strategic planning.. Subsequently, detailed information on soil andland characteristics are required to be generated, which is vital for development of locationspecific plan for reclamation of degraded lands