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A Pilot Study on Application of Geographic Information System for Watershed Development Planning in Uttar Kosi Sub Watershed, District Almora (Uttaranchal) in 1991-93.
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A project named "Uttar Kosi Sub Watershed" sponsored by National Wasteland Development Board was carried out by the FSI during the period 1991-93 using Geographic Information System (GIS). The objective of the study was to identity the magnitude of various problems like scarcity of firewood and fodder, loss of forest cover, productivity of forest, overgrazing, soil erosion and to suggest suitable measures to tackle them. The other important side of the study was to demonstrate the capability of GIS for operational use integrated planning and management of resources at micro level.
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The project area falls in Almora district of Uttaranchal. The study area is a part of catchment of the Kosi river and has an extent of 454.32 sq.km. There are 15 micro-watersheds in the project area. The terrain of the project area in general is hilly with altitude varying between 1000m and 2750m above mean sea level. The drainage pattern is characteristically dendritic and the main stream is continuous and effluent.
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The soil in the project area generally varies from gravelly to very gravelly in uplands to sandy loam in the valleys. Soil is extremely erodible and requires proper protection under erosion control measures in the valleys and biological controls on uplands.
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Chirpine is the main species found between 1000 m and 1500 m altitude mixed with Oak at higher ridges. Fir is found mixed with Oak and other upland broad leaved species in a very small region. Deodar has been planted at Sitla Khet, Malla, Areadeo etc. in patches.
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Fires are annual feature causing extensive damage to trees, regeneration, soil and wild animals. Chir forests are burnt every year by people to produce succulent grass for their cattle. Forests are burdened with local rights. Forest area within this zone by corridoring method was found to be village forest 95.73 sq.km. Average incidence of grazing works out to be 11.6 cattle/ha which is too high against the carrying capacity of 2.6 cattle/ha.
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Area under different landuse classes is shown in the table below:
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Distribution of Area Under Different Landuse Classes |
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Sl.No. |
Landuse Class |
Area (in sq.km.) |
Percentage of Land Cover |
| 1 |
Agriculture |
136.18 |
29.27 |
| 2 |
Barren land |
49.34 |
10.86 |
| 3 |
Scrub land |
3.88 |
0.86 |
| 4 |
Forest blanks |
0.58 |
0.13 |
| 5 |
Rocks eposur |
0.29 |
0.06 |
| 6 |
Chir dense |
87.02 |
19.15 |
| 7 |
Chir medium |
102.00 |
22.46 |
| 8 |
Chir open |
22.32 |
4.91 |
| 9 |
Mixed dense |
6.80 |
1.5 |
| 10 |
Mixed medium |
17.26 |
3.8 |
| 11 |
Mixed open |
10.14 |
2.23 |
| 12 |
Oak dense |
3.02 |
0.66 |
| 13 |
Oak medium |
13.85 |
3.06 |
| 14 |
Oak open |
0.25 |
0.05 |
| 15 |
Fir dense |
1.04 |
0.23 |
| 16 |
Deodar mixed |
0.35 |
0.08 |
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454.32 |
100.00 |
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GIS technique has been very useful in this study. Using GIS, we have already created maps and tables showing the nature and availability of facilities especially for each village and have generated village wise picture of complex scenario, by querying and analysis. However due to lack of time, various analysis of finding out which all villages require supplanting of water supplies, fuelwood, fodder, food supplies more urgently compared to other, could not be carried out. But through GIS studies on these and many other important aspects could easily be carried out using the already existing information stored in digital form and hard copy maps and tables
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