Indira Gandhi Canal: Afforestation and its Impact on Forest Cover in Rajasthan (India)

Study area is located in the state of Rajasthan, which is situated in the North western part of the country. Rajasthan covers a geographical area of 342239 Sq. km. , which is ten percent of the total geographic area of the country. The western part of the desert is barren and arid, through which Indira Gandhi canal flows. This barren arid land, which is known as Thar desert is characterized by severe hot and arid climate along with desertification. During summer season, weather is extremely inhospitable with high temperature and low humidity, along with high speed wind, sometimes dust storms. Dust storm, along with wind erosion and deposition is the characteristic feature of the western Rajasthan. Therefore, to combat desertification, afforestation programs have been taken up in different phases in Indira Gandhi canal command area, which has affected the overall forest cover in the state, especially western part of Rajasthan. The project has been designed to fulfill different objectives which includes the drought proofing, improvement in micro-climatic conditions, rehabilitation, protection of animal wealth, extention of green land. Trees like Dalbergia sissoo, Prosopis cineraria, Tecumella nudalta, zizyphus jujuba, Acacia Senegal, Acacia nilotica, etc. have been planted along canal, roadside and in different Abadies in the canal command area. In an extreme arid area of western Rajasthan, afforestation has reduced wind velocity and the dust storm. Afforestation of shifting sand dunes not only eliminated hazards but brought about durable benefits through improvement in soil fertility and soil moisture regime, which has ultimately led to increased agricultural productivity. Agricultural land use has been changed from subsistence to intensive form of agriculture, as well as net sown area has also increased, which means that there is a desire among inhabitants to grow economically beneficial crops. Above all there has been an increase in forest cover according to the last