Land Degradation in the Tropical Highland : A Case Study of Orissa

Land is the most critical resource for life on earth. Yet it is being allowed to rapldly degrade. A combination of physical and human processes is lowering the quality of land to a state where it is unproductive and therefore unsupportive of ant life. Rapid population growth coup;ed with inappropriate technology and insatiable demand for resources has magnified the problem of land degradation. The widespread manifestatin of soil erosion bespealks of this deterioration. \nThis book makes an analytical inquiry into the causes and types of degradation in the tropical highlands of Northern Orissa. Located in the north eastern section of the Deccan Plateau, this richly forested Highland is fast turning into a barren landscape Symptoms of this are evident in the rate of spoil erosion and exhaustion of nutrients. \nDrawing fromn a variety of sources of data what lends a unique flavour to the book is the blend of traditional and modern techniques employed in analysing the spatial extent of degradation of land. This book amalgamates information from over a hundred topographical sheets and half a dozen statellite imageries. Bakced by extensive field observation it is the tools of geographic information system that helped identify the critical areas and factors responsible for the degradation of land helped identify the critical areas and factors responsible for the degradation of land. \nThe main message of the book is that the Highlands of Orissa are facing a rapaid deerioration which need to be arreste3d before a vicious circle of ecological impairment sets to roll. \nlllustrated with maps, photographs and tables the book is of value to geographers, rural lands use planners, soil scientists, resource managers and all those concerned with the deterioration of the environment..