Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Land utilization refers to the way land is used by humans, encompassing agriculture, forestry, industrial, residential, and other purposes, shaped by both natural and anthropogenic factors. The Eastern Ghats, a discontinuous range of mountains running parallel to India's eastern coast, spans across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. This region is a unique mosaic of ecosystems, characterized by diverse topography, climate, and socio-economic conditions. Consequently, its land utilization patterns are varied and complex, reflecting the interplay between traditional practices and modern developmental pressures. However, in recent decades, these traditional and ecologically sensitive land-use methods have come under severe threat from a multitude of factors.
The Eastern Ghats region exhibits a distinct pattern of land utilization, shaped by its varied topography, soil types, climatic conditions, and the socio-economic activities of its diverse inhabitants. However, this intricate balance is increasingly threatened by modern pressures.
Characteristics of Land Utilization in the Eastern Ghats Region
The land utilization in the Eastern Ghats is highly diverse, ranging from dense forests to agricultural lands and mineral extraction sites.
- Forestry: A significant portion of the Eastern Ghats is covered by forests, including tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, and dry deciduous types. These forests are vital for biodiversity conservation, tribal livelihoods (collection of non-timber forest produce), and ecological balance.
- Agriculture:
- Rainfed Agriculture: Predominantly rainfed due to limited irrigation facilities, especially in the hilly and plateau regions.
- Terrace Farming: Common in hilly tracts to prevent soil erosion and facilitate cultivation on slopes.
- Paddy Cultivation: Flourishes in the fertile valley floors and plains.
- Mixed Cropping: Practices include millets, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops, often integrated with traditional shifting cultivation (Jhum cultivation) in tribal areas.
- Plantations: Commercial plantations of coffee, tea, and other cash crops are prevalent in certain hilly areas like the Shevaroy and Kolli Hills.
- Pastures and Grazing Lands: Interspersed in semi-arid zones, supporting livestock rearing for local communities.
- Mining Activities: The region is rich in mineral deposits such as bauxite, iron ore, limestone, and manganese. Mining operations are a significant land use in pockets, contributing to the regional economy.
- Water Bodies: Numerous rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Kaveri) and smaller streams crisscross the region, supporting irrigation, fishing, and human settlements. Several dams and reservoirs have been constructed for hydropower generation and water supply.
- Settlements and Infrastructure: Human settlements, ranging from tribal villages to small towns, are scattered throughout. Developmental infrastructure like roads, railways, and industrial units also occupy specific land parcels.
Recent Threats to Land Utilization Methods in the Eastern Ghats Region
The Eastern Ghats are facing severe environmental threats that are significantly altering traditional and sustainable land utilization patterns.
- Deforestation and Habitat Loss:
- Logging and Mining: Illegal logging and indiscriminate mining activities (e.g., bauxite in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh) are leading to widespread forest destruction. A 2017 study indicated that the Eastern Ghats lost approximately 32,200 km² of forest cover between 1920 and 2015, with forests shrinking by nearly 16%.
- Shifting Cultivation (Jhum): While traditional, increased population pressure and reduced fallow periods make it unsustainable, leading to accelerated deforestation and soil degradation.
- Monoculture Plantations: Replacement of diverse natural forests with monoculture plantations reduces biodiversity and ecological resilience.
- Encroachments: Illegal encroachments for agriculture, settlements, and other purposes further fragment forest areas.
- Urbanization and Industrial Expansion:
- Rapid urbanization and industrial development, particularly near coastal areas and mineral-rich zones, consume agricultural and forest lands.
- Unplanned infrastructure development, including highways and hydropower projects, fragments ecosystems and disrupts traditional livelihoods.
- Soil Degradation and Erosion:
- Deforestation and unscientific agricultural practices on steep slopes, combined with heavy rainfall, lead to severe soil erosion, loss of topsoil, and reduced agricultural productivity.
- Mining activities further exacerbate soil degradation and pollution.
- Climate Change Impacts:
- Water Scarcity and Crop Failures: Changing rainfall patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and rising temperatures lead to water scarcity and frequent crop failures, forcing farmers to abandon marginal lands or switch to less diverse, often unsustainable, mono-cropping.
- Forest Fires: Increased temperatures and prolonged dry spells contribute to more frequent and intense forest fires, devastating biodiversity and forest cover.
- Loss of Biodiversity: Climate change, coupled with land-use changes, threatens endemic and rare plant and animal species by degrading their habitats.
- Pollution:
- Industrial pollution, discharge of untreated sewage, and plastic waste from unregulated tourism degrade the environment and water bodies, impacting land productivity and ecosystem health.
- Invasive Species:
- Introduction and spread of non-native invasive species (e.g., Lantana camara, Prosopis juliflora) outcompete native flora, leading to ecological imbalance and further loss of biodiversity.
- Unsustainable Resource Extraction:
- Over-extraction of non-timber forest produce, poaching, and illegal wildlife trade put immense pressure on forest resources and biodiversity, weakening the ecological integrity of the land.
These threats collectively undermine the ecological services provided by the Eastern Ghats and challenge the long-term sustainability of its land utilization patterns, affecting both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities, especially tribal populations.
Conclusion
The Eastern Ghats region showcases a complex and historically adaptive pattern of land utilization, integral to the livelihoods of its inhabitants and the ecological balance of peninsular India. However, this traditional harmony is increasingly jeopardized by a confluence of modern threats. Anthropogenic pressures from deforestation, unsustainable mining, rapid urbanization, and industrial expansion, coupled with the exacerbating effects of climate change, are leading to significant habitat loss, soil degradation, and biodiversity decline. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted, multi-pronged approach involving strict enforcement of environmental regulations, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, regulated eco-tourism, and community-centric conservation initiatives to ensure the ecological integrity and sustainable development of this vital Indian geographical feature.
Answer Length
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