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The project “Mapping of Agriculture and Horticulture Potential Areas within R. Tut Riverine Reserve Forest, Mamit District, Mizoram using Remote Sensing and GIS” was undertaken by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MRSAC) under the Science & Technology, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram, with sponsorship from the Environment and Forest Department, Government of Mizoram. The study was initiated following consultations with forest authorities to identify cultivable land within the legally protected riverine reserve while ensuring that any proposed diversion or utilization complies with the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The study area covers the River Tut Riverine Reserve Forest in Mamit District, extending approximately 800 metres on both sides of the river. Mizoram’s rugged terrain offers limited scope for large-scale agriculture, making the low-lying valleys and riverbank areas especially important for crop development. The main objective was therefore to identify and spatially delineate land suitable for agriculture and horticulture and provide a scientific basis for evaluating future land-use proposals. The project integrated satellite remote sensing, GIS analysis, Survey of India topographic maps, collateral information and field verification. Thematic datasets on land use and land cover, slope and land capability were generated and overlaid to identify potentially suitable areas. Inputs and field-level guidance were provided by the Environment and Forest Department, Mamit Forest Division and the district Agriculture authorities. The resulting maps, sector-wise spatial database and accompanying report provide an important planning resource for forest administrators, agriculture and horticulture departments, district authorities and development agencies. They can support crop-development planning, land capability assessment, field verification, evaluation of forest-diversion proposals and identification of appropriate compensatory conservation measures. The project demonstrates how Remote Sensing and GIS can help balance agricultural development with forest protection by supplying objective, location-specific information for transparent and environmentally responsible decision-making. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS 1D – LISS III (2006); Cartosat-1 (April & December, 2006) Study area: Tut Riverine Reserve Forest, Mamit district Collaborating/Funding Agency: Environment & Forest Department, Government of Mizoram No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 - 2008

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

The Wetland Inventory and Assessment of Mizoram was implemented as part of the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) Project, a nationwide initiative formulated by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad and funded by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. For Mizoram, the work was carried out by the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), with technical guidance and support from SAC and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Umiam. The project covered the entire State of Mizoram and aimed to create a systematic, standardized and spatially consistent inventory of wetlands at 1:50,000 scale. Its principal objectives were to map and classify wetlands, integrate supporting layers such as roads, settlements, drainage and administrative boundaries, create a seamless GIS database, and contribute to preparation of State-level and National Wetland Atlases. The study made extensive use of Remote Sensing and GIS, particularly IRS-P6 LISS-III satellite data from pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods, supported by ground-truth observations and ancillary spatial information. Wetlands were interpreted using a standardized NWIA classification framework, while digital image processing techniques and spectral indices such as NDWI, MNDWI, NDVI, NDPI and NDTI were used to delineate wetland extent, seasonal water spread, aquatic vegetation and qualitative turbidity. ERDAS Imagine, ARC/INFO and ArcGIS were used for image processing, database creation, spatial analysis and map preparation. The resulting wetland maps, GIS layers, statistics and report provide an important baseline for wetland conservation, biodiversity management, water-resource planning, environmental monitoring and land-use decision-making. They are particularly useful to government departments, planners, researchers, conservation agencies and other stakeholders requiring standardized and spatially referenced information on Mizoram’s rivers, lakes, ponds and other wetland ecosystems. The project also ensures that Mizoram’s wetland information is integrated into a nationally compatible geospatial database for future monitoring and policy support. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS LISS III (2006 & 2007) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India & Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2006 – 2009

The project “Study of Bamboo Flowering in Mizoram using Remote Sensing and GIS” was undertaken as a collaborative initiative of the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC) and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Department of Space, Government of India. The project originated from a proposal submitted by MIRSAC to NESAC in 2007, was fully funded by NESAC, and implemented by MIRSAC as the working centre, with technical guidance and supervision from NESAC. The study covered the entire bamboo-growing areas of Mizoram and was initiated in response to the widespread gregarious bamboo flowering that reached its peak around 2007. Its main objective was to document the general pattern of bamboo flowering in the State and to map and analyze changes in flowering areas over three observation years—2005, 2006 and 2008. This temporal approach provided an important basis for understanding the progression of flowering and its implications for bamboo resources, the environment and rural livelihoods. The project made extensive use of IRS-P6 LISS-III satellite imagery, supported by Survey of India topographic maps, existing land-use information, previous bamboo inventories and field verification. Image processing and analysis were carried out using ERDAS Imagine and ARC/INFO GIS, with techniques such as supervised classification, NDVI, Stress Index, Bamboo Index, image enhancement, mosaicking and GIS-based spatial analysis used to identify bamboo forests and flowering areas. The resulting maps, temporal datasets and GIS database provide a valuable reference for bamboo resource management, forest monitoring, regeneration studies, fire-risk assessment, livelihood planning and future flowering-cycle research. The project is particularly useful to forestry and bamboo development agencies, planners, researchers and policy makers because it establishes a scientifically derived geospatial record of bamboo flowering across Mizoram and provides baseline information for future modelling, monitoring and sustainable management of this economically and ecologically important resource. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:50,000 Satellite data & Year: IRS P6 LISS-III (2005, 2006, 2008) Study area: Mizoram Collaborating/Funding Agency: North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009

The Micro Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping of Lunglei Town was undertaken as an in-house project of the Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre (MIRSAC), Science & Technology, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram. The study was initiated in response to the recurrent landslide problems affecting Lunglei, where rapid urban expansion, road cutting, slope modification and construction activities interact with steep terrain, fragile geology and heavy monsoon rainfall. The project was intended to provide planners, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the public with a scientifically derived basis for landslide-risk mitigation and safer future development. The study covered the 55.08 sq. km notified area of Lunglei Town, the second-largest settlement in Mizoram. Its principal objective was to prepare a micro-level landslide hazard zonation map by integrating key terrain and environmental parameters, including land use/land cover, slope, geomorphology, lithology and geological structure. The project employed high-resolution QuickBird satellite imagery (0.8 m) as the primary spatial dataset, supplemented by IRS-P5 Cartosat-I stereo data (2.5 m), Survey of India topographic maps, ancillary information and field observations. Remote Sensing and GIS techniques were used to derive thematic layers, while Cartosat stereo data supported contour and slope generation. The hazard assessment followed a qualitative, expert-based approach adapted from NRSA methodology, with individual terrain parameters weighted according to their influence on landslide susceptibility. The resulting thematic maps, landslide hazard zonation map and grid-wise outputs provide an important geospatial reference for disaster management, infrastructure planning, road development, building-site assessment, slope management and prioritization of mitigation measures. The report is particularly valuable for planning and engineering departments, local authorities, disaster-management agencies, researchers and development organisations seeking to identify relatively vulnerable terrain and incorporate landslide considerations into urban planning. It also establishes a useful baseline for more detailed field investigations and future monitoring of slope instability in Lunglei. Summarize Metadata Mapping Scale: 1:5,000 Satellite data & Year: Quickbird & Cartosat-1 (2007) Study area: Lunglei Town Collaborating/Funding Agency: Science, Technology & Environment Wing, Planning Department, Government of Mizoram No. of Report(s) published: 1 Project Period: 2007 – 2009