Land Use Planning for NLUP Implementation using Remote Sensing & GIS
The “Land Use Planning for NLUP Implementation using Remote Sensing and GIS” project was undertaken by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Science & Technology, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, as a pilot study for Zawngling Village in Saiha District. The project emerged from coordination with the NLUP Implementing Board, Saiha District administration and Zawngling Village Council, with additional technical support from KVK and the Agriculture Department, Saiha for soil analysis. Its purpose was to demonstrate how scientific land-use planning could strengthen implementation of Mizoram’s New Land Use Policy (NLUP) at village level. The project combined Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS-supported field verification and socio-economic information to prepare an integrated spatial database of village resources. High-resolution IRS-P6 LISS-IV and Cartosat-1 stereo satellite data acquired in 2009 were used along with Survey of India topographic maps, departmental records and field observations. Image processing was carried out in ERDAS Imagine, while GIS analysis and database integration were undertaken using ARC/INFO. Cartosat stereo data also supported preparation of terrain information such as slope and Digital Elevation Models. The principal objective was to develop a practical methodology for integrating land use/land cover, soils, slope, altitude, drainage, water resources, infrastructure and socio-economic information to identify suitable areas for different NLUP activities and formulate realistic land- and water-resource development plans. Zawngling was selected because of its diverse natural-resource setting, rugged terrain and predominantly agriculture-based rural economy. The resulting thematic maps, GIS database and action-planning outputs provide useful decision support for NLUP implementing agencies, district authorities, village councils, agriculture and horticulture departments, planners and researchers. Importantly, the pilot established a replicable framework for extending scientifically based, participatory and resource-compatible land-use planning to other villages of Mizoram. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:5000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS IV (2009) & Cartosat-I (2009) Study area: Zawngling village, Saiha district Collaborating/Funding Agency: NIB (NLUP Implementing Board) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2010
Integrated Land Use Planning
The Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP) Project was undertaken by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Science & Technology, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, to develop scientifically based land-use plans for Serchhip and Saiha districts. The project was conceived in support of sustainable rural development and initiatives such as the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), where appropriate utilization of land and natural resources required reliable spatial information at district and village levels. The project was financially supported by the Science, Technology & Environment Wing, Planning Department, with active cooperation from the District Administration, concerned Government departments and Village Councils during data collection and field verification. The project extensively employed Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies using multi-resolution satellite datasets including IRS LISS-III, LISS-IV, Cartosat-I and QuickBird imagery. These datasets were integrated with information on existing land use, terrain and slope, soils, rainfall, surface and groundwater resources, transport networks and other natural-resource parameters to formulate spatially explicit land-use recommendations. A major strength of the project was its village-level planning approach. The resulting atlases provided individual maps depicting settlements, transport networks and drainage systems alongside corresponding Integrated Land Use Planning maps. Proposed interventions included areas suitable for wet rice cultivation and pisciculture, terrace cultivation, agro-horticulture, plantations, silviculture, pasture development and afforestation, together with water-resource structures such as check dams, rainwater-harvesting ponds, intake weirs and irrigation systems. The generated maps, atlases and GIS databases provide valuable decision-support information for Government departments, district administrations, Village Councils, planners, researchers and development agencies, helping them identify resource-compatible interventions, plan field programmes, prioritize investments and promote sustainable land and water-resource management across the two districts. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:10,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS III, LISS IV, Cartosat I & Quickbird (2009-2010) Study area: Serchhip & Saiha Districts Collaborating/Funding Agency: Science & Technology, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram No. of Report(s) published: 2 Atlases Project Period: 2010-2011
National Wastelands Monitoring - Mizoram
The National Wastelands Monitoring using Multi-Temporal Satellite Data – Mizoram project formed part of a national initiative led by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to update and improve information on wasteland distribution across India using satellite remote sensing. For Mizoram, the study was carried out by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Science & Technology, Planning Department, as a partner institution under the national programme. The project responded to the need for more detailed and regularly updated wasteland information than was available from earlier small-scale national mapping exercises. The principal objective was to update the spatial extent and distribution of wastelands with reference to the 2003 database using 2005–2006 satellite imagery, and to create a standardized digital database and information system for monitoring land degradation and change. The study covered the entire State of Mizoram, comprising all eight districts and its predominantly mountainous, forested and shifting-cultivation-influenced landscape. The project employed IRS-P6 LISS-III multi-temporal satellite data, supported by existing wasteland vector layers, Survey of India maps and ancillary information. Remote sensing interpretation and GIS-based spatial analysis were used to delineate and classify wasteland categories such as current and abandoned shifting cultivation, scrub forest, open scrub and degraded pasture/grazing land. A major component of the project was change analysis, wherein the 2003 wasteland database was overlaid with the 2005–2006 mapping to identify areas of reclamation, continuing degradation, newly emerging wastelands and areas showing no significant change. The maps, digital database, district-wise outputs and change-analysis information generated through the project provide an important planning resource for land-resource management, watershed development, soil and water conservation, forestry, agriculture, rural development and environmental monitoring. They also offer government agencies, planners, researchers and development departments a consistent geospatial baseline for identifying degraded areas, prioritizing rehabilitation measures, monitoring land-use change and evaluating the effectiveness of land-restoration programmes over time. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS-III (2005 & 2006) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009
National Land Use Land Cover Mapping - Mizoram
The National Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Mapping of Mizoram using Multi-Temporal Satellite Data was undertaken as part of the Natural Resources Census Programme of the Department of Space, Government of India. The nationwide programme was coordinated by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, while the Mizoram component was implemented by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC) in close coordination with the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Shillong. The project was designed to generate an updated, standardized and spatially consistent LULC database for the State to support natural-resource planning and management. The study covered the entire State of Mizoram and used multi-temporal IRS-P6 LISS-III satellite data for 2005–2006, representing the Kharif, Rabi and Zaid seasons. These datasets were supplemented by field verification, Survey of India topographic maps at 1:50,000 scale, existing thematic maps, road and settlement information, census data and other statistical records. Standard Remote Sensing and GIS procedures were employed, following the NRC-LULC 50K classification and codification framework, to generate seamless district- and State-level digital databases. The mapping framework represented major land-use categories including built-up areas, agriculture, forest, bamboo, grassland, wasteland, water bodies and shifting cultivation. The primary objective of the project was to provide a reliable geospatial representation of the State’s land-use and land-cover pattern and its seasonal characteristics. Such information is particularly important in Mizoram because of its rugged terrain, extensive forest cover, shifting cultivation and rapidly changing patterns of land utilization. The resulting maps, GIS database and report provide valuable baseline information for government departments, planners, researchers and development agencies. They can support land-use planning, agricultural and forestry programmes, watershed management, infrastructure development, environmental monitoring, resource conservation and future change-detection studies. By adopting a nationally standardized methodology, the project also enables Mizoram’s LULC information to be integrated with the larger national natural-resource database for consistent monitoring and evidence-based planning. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS-III (2005 & 2006) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009
National Land Degradation mapping (Mizoram)
The National Land Degradation Mapping of Mizoram using Multi-temporal Satellite Data was undertaken as part of the Natural Resources Census Programme of the Department of Space, Government of India. The nationwide project was coordinated by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad, while the Mizoram component was implemented by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Science & Technology, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, with technical guidance and support from NRSC. The project covered the entire State of Mizoram, a predominantly hilly and rugged region where steep slopes, heavy rainfall and widespread shifting cultivation make the landscape particularly susceptible to soil erosion and other forms of land degradation. The study aimed to prepare a scientifically standardized land degradation map and digital geospatial database at 1:50,000 scale, providing consistent information for both State-level and national-level planning. The assessment made extensive use of multi-temporal IRS-P6 LISS-III satellite data representing three agricultural seasons—Kharif, Rabi and Zaid during 2005–2006, supported by field observations and ancillary spatial information. Remote Sensing and GIS techniques were used to identify and characterize degraded land, analyse its spatial and temporal behaviour, and organize the results using the standardized NRC-LDM 50K classification and codification framework. The project also integrated base information to create seamless district- and State-level digital datasets. The importance of the project lies in providing a reliable geospatial foundation for understanding where land resources are under stress and where restoration efforts should be prioritized. The resulting maps, database and report are particularly useful for land reclamation, watershed and soil-conservation programmes, rational land-use planning, agricultural development, forest and environmental management, and monitoring of degraded landscapes. For planners, researchers, development departments and natural-resource managers, the project provides a standardized baseline against which future changes can be assessed. It also enables Mizoram’s land-degradation information to be integrated into the broader national resource database, strengthening evidence-based planning and long-term sustainable management of the State’s fragile hill environment. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS 1D LISS-III (2005 & 2006) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009