A Remote Sensing & GIS approach for Land Use Planning in Champhai District, Mizoram, India

Planning for sustained and effective land use has been the main focus for developing regions in north-east India, especially in states like Mizoram. The age long practice of shifting cultivation in these regions have rendered considerable destruction to both land resources and environment, as such land uses lack proper scientific inputs and plans. It is, thus, imperative to understand the consequences of these practices and to develop proper strategies or land use plans which can counteract the detrimental effects on environment, and at the same time improve productivity of land. This study deals with the application of remote sensing and GIS for land use planning in Champhai district of Mizoram, India. Indian Remote Sensing satellite data (LISS-III and Cartosat-I) has been used for generating various GIS layers like land use, slope, soil, drainage, etc. They were then integrated with collected ground and socio-economic data to evolve a comprehensive land use plan for the study area. The analysis in a GIS system helped in bringing out maps and statistics with constructive options for alternate land use plans in the study area which are both productive and sustainable. This information will be very useful at district level to plan according to the schemes and resources available.