PREFACE

Nature has bestowed mankind with different resources essential for its sustenance and well-being. Unfortunately during recent decades, human impacts on natural resources are operating at unprecedented rates and at larger spatial scales. Further, under the face of changing lifestyle attitudes and an ever increasing quest for economic stability and development, the pressure on natural resources has increased manifold. Other environmental issues like climate change and various anthropogenic activities have also deteriorated the natural resources to an alarming level. Thus, a strong need is felt to advocate and adhere to means and procedures leading to sustainable development of different sectors important for the well-being of mankind. This book intends to provide an insight regarding the changes in the land use and land cover resources of ten districts of Kashmir valley under the changing climatic scenario. This study has been carried out by using Remote Sensing and Geo Information System Technologies using latest satellite imageries obtained from NRSC Hyderabad and validated and supported with ground truthing of the study area. Thematic maps, surface maps, hydrological maps and profile maps of the study area have been generated. The book shall be useful for students, researchers, scientists and policy makers for proper planning and management of various natural resources. The authors express their gratitude to RKVY for providing funds to carry out the research work and to the Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, Govt. of J & K for providing shape files of the different districts of Kashmir valley. The financial support from NMHS-GBPNIHED, Almora and DST-HICAB New Delhi for publication of this book is also gratefully acknowledged. Authors are also grateful to all scientists of the various faculties and KVK‟s who helped during ground truthing of the study area. We also acknowledge the support and assistance of the research students viz Mr. Abid Muslim Baba, Mr. Sofi Zubair Ahmad, Mr. Parminder Singh and Mr. Owais Javeed who tirelessly worked day and night to get this research work accomplished. The Arc GIS software license of ITC alumni, University of Twente, Netherlands used is also acknowledged. Authors also thank their families for moral support especially Bazilah Kirmani during final proof reading.

N.A. Kirmani and F.A. Lone