PREPARED & PRESENTED BY:

GAURAVI GADEKAR SWATHI P. IYER ROHIT MANDHANE SWAPNIL PARAB SAURABH PARASHAR MEGHAVI SWALI 1176 1181 1189 1196 1197 1213

India makes up 2.4 percent of the world's land, while supporting 16 percent of the world's population. India has a total land area of approximately 304 Million Hectares.
264 M.H. 40 M.H.

(Potential for Vegetation) (Unfit for Vegetation)

142 M.H. (Already Cultivated)

122 M.H.

67 M.H. (Forestland)

55 M.H. (Fallow Or Wasteland)

Waste & Wastewater 3% Forestry 17% Agriculture 14% Industry 19%

Land Usage
(2004)
Energy Supply 26%

Transport 13%

Residential & Commercial Buildings 8%

Land management is the process of managing the use and development of land resources. Need For Land Management : Currently, India is experiencing rapid and widespread environmental degradation at alarming rates. Tremendous pressure is placed upon the country's land and natural resources to support the massive overpopulation. Several processes are critically affecting the way land and natural resources are used: growing global population, global climate change combined with resulting problems such as large-scale migration, flood events and water shortages, and developments in global agricultural and energy markets.

Sustainable land management (SLM) can be defined as the use of land resources such as soils, water, animals and plants for the production of goods - to meet changing human needs - while assuring the long-term productive potential of these resources, and the maintenance of their environmental functions. Sustainable Land Management is : used in soil and environmental protection, in preservation of ecosystem services and mineral extraction. used in property and estate management as well as regional planning. applied in forestry, agriculture, land surveying and in combination with land use management.

 The world's croplands are in decline due to the pressure of human activities. The loss of arable land has been caused by a number of factors, many or most of which are tied to human development. The primary causes are deforestation, overexploitation for fuelwood, overgrazing, agricultural activities and industrialization.

 Despite the impressive gains in agricultural production and productivity via crop intensification, the most of the regions are facing problems related to the land degradation due to intensively cropped lands, the overuse of ground water, excessive nutrient loads in surface and ground water, and increased pesticide use.

 Deforestation implies the long-term or permanent loss of forest cover and its transformation into another land use. Forests are cleared, degraded and fragmented by timber harvest, conversion to agriculture, road-building, humancaused fire, and in many other ways. Deforestation changes the landscape. Trees, their roots and surround plant life help prevent and minimize erosion of the land, thus deforestation would cause rapid erosion of the land. Also, when trees in swampy areas die and decompose naturally this is what eventually forms coal. The paper products we use daily could have been a part of a forest which functioned to enrich and hold soil, absorb carbon dioxide, collect and recycle water, release oxygen, and regulate climate. By wasting paper products, we are wasting forests. The simple fact is that the more paper we use, the more forests need to be cut down to serve our paper needs.

CAUSES : Construction Purposes Urban Development Grazing Land Used for Fuel Commercial Purposes EFFECTS : Erosion of Soil Disruption of the Water Cycle Flooding and Drought Climate Change Reforestation of lost areas and following sustainable practices will help us balance our green cover.

 Coal mining, the first step in the dirty lifecycle of coal, causes deforestation and releases toxic amounts of minerals and heavy metals into the soil and water. Mining of coal both surface and subsurface causes enormous damage to the flora, fauna, hydrological relations and soil biological properties of the systems. The overburden of coal mines when dumped in unmined areas creates mine spoils which ultimately affects the surrounding vegetation. Unscientific mining of minerals poses a serious threat to the environment, resulting in reduction of forest cover, erosion of soil at a greater scale. Coal mining has been most extensively practiced in all the districts of Meghalaya, northeast India as a result of this, the original lush green landscape have been converted to mine spoils.

 Mining severely alters the landscape, which reduces the value of the natural environment in the surrounding land. Mining eliminates existing vegetation, destroys the genetic soil profile, displaces or destroys wildlife and habitat, alters current land uses, and to some extent permanently changes the general topography of the area mined. Paleontological, cultural, and other historic values may be endangered due to the disruptive activities of blasting, ripping, and excavating coal.

 Mine collapses have the potential to produce major effects above ground, which are especially devastating in developed areas. German underground coal-mining (especially in North Rhine-Westphalia) has damaged thousands of houses. In a particular spectacular case in German Saar region a suspected mine collapse in 2008 created an earthquake measuring 4.0 Richter magnitude scale causing some damage to houses.

 There are many problems associated with the construction of big dams especially displacement of poor people, deforestation, etc. Hence, there were many anti-dam movements that came into action all over the world. Same way in India Narmada Bachao Andolan is an example for strong opposition for construction of big dams on the river Narmada against the Indian government. . The Narmada is India's largest west-flowing river and supports a vast population. It is believed that the proposed Sardar Sarovar Dam and Narmada Sagar will displace more than 2,50,000 people. Narmada Bachao Andolan is a social movement against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada river, Gujarat, India.

 The leading spoke person for this movement were Medha Patkar and Baba Amte. It is usually possible to build dams where there is very little or no population, but these sites are likely to have reach forests as in Western Ghats or Himalayan ranges. If these forests were cut there would be another set of problems that would have sprouted and needed to be tackled. Hence, Narmada Bachao Andolan took major steps to prevent construction the dam on the river as it would have negative impacts on environment. To save the people, Medha Patkar took a fast of 22days that almost took her life.

 Mangroves are an integral part of the landscape of Mumbai. Mangroves are sturdy woody plants which are found in lowlying shallow areas. Mangrove ecosystems serve as a buffer between land and sea. They actually protect the land from the impact of the sea and by trapping silt they also maintain the integrity of Mumbai's shoreline. However, they are fast disappearing owing to rampant construction and lack of governmental will for their protection. For a major economic port like Mumbai, this is very crucial to maintain stability along the coastline and avoid accidents. Mumbai is surrounded by over 5000 acres of mangrove swamps spread over various areas like Mahim, Madh, Thane creek, Versova, Gorai and Ghodbunder. Of these, Mumbai has lost almost 40% to reclamation of land for construction and developmental projects.

 About 300 acres was sanctioned to build the Esselworld amusement park in the Gorai creek at Borivli and a golf course at Andheri. However, the biggest symbol of the destruction of mangroves is the Bandra-Kurla complex which was built on reclaimed land almost strangulating the mouth of the Mithi River. However, unplanned urban development without respecting the course of nature will always backfire in the form of a disaster like 26/7. In a coastal city, wetlands, wastelands, saltpan lands and mangroves function as buffer zones against tidal movement. Each of these have been systematically destroyed which has resulted in deterioration of land.

 The Dabhol Power Company plant has been built on the ancestral lands of 700 families and most of them in this region have been hurt by the project in some way or the other. Its situated on the banks of the Vasisthi river in Guhagar taluk in western Maharashtra, the area surrounding the DPC encompasses several agricultural villages and two fishing villages and is home to more than 92,000 people, who are entirely dependent on the region's natural resources. When the construction of the power plant started, there has been consistent degradation of the environment. Not only farmers have lost their means of livelihood but the sea water has been also polluted.

 The DPC project affected villages of Katalwadi, Anjanvel, Ranvi and Veldur . Nearly 65 per cent of those affected by the power project belong to Katalwadi. Not a single person from the 243 families of katalwadi had accepted any compensation made by government and DPC. Some who have lost all their land have had to work as laborers on others field and many lost their cultivable part of their property. The katalwadis residents protested and went for a enron virodhi andolan. They wanted MIDC to return the 200 hectares that has been lying unused, out of the 610 hectares that was acquired for the project. Besides, in 1997, former Chief Minister Manohar Joshi had assured them that their land would be returned. The MIDC Act stipulates that unless 60 per cent of the affected people agree, the government cannot go ahead with land acquisition. Also, the MIDC should acquire only barren land or land that cannot be cultivated.

 In order to tackle these issues, about 22 major programs are being implemented by the Government of India (GoI), including, the 'Mission for Green India' one of the Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, which aims to address dry land forests, in addition to other ecosystems. GEF's Sustainable Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) programmatic approach is reviving and promoting the traditional integrated water and land management systems.

 Integrated Farm Development (IFD) models are promoted in Nagaland, wherein all components of agriculture like crop-livestockfishery-forestry-horticulture are integrated in a complementary way. Due to introduction of other crops like tea, bamboo, rubber, cardamom and others, the farmers are working on the same land thus lengthening the fallow period. This along with the introduction of an appropriate mix of indigenous and scientific farming techniques is improving the soil fertility. Till date the project has estimated about 10% increase in economic benefits.

 In villages of Thar Desert ecosystem in India, the rural communities are being empowered in reviving and promoting the traditional integrated water and land management systems. About 62 micro projects have been implemented. Many villages have removed the encroachments from common property resources and revived common grasslands. Grass varieties like Moda Dhaman (Cenchrus) with high caloric value are being grown. Revival of traditional plants/ trees and planting techniques with the technical support of government institutions is on the rise.

RESTORATION :

In lightly degraded soils can be improved by crop rotation, minimum tillage techniques, and other farm practices. More severely degraded soils are more difficult to restore. Moderately damaged land takes more resources than an average farmer has to restore. Changes in soil conservation practices can slow land degradation, but not restore fertility often. National programs will be needed for such lands, requiring major structural change (e.g., draining, contour banks, etc.)

Severely eroded land generally is simply abandoned. Restoration efforts are simply beyond developing countries requiring deep ditches for drainage, terraces to hold the soil in place, mechanized deep ploughing to remove compaction, reseeding programs, etc.

 Mangroves have been classified as a Coastal Regulation Zone-I (CRZ), which means that construction cannot take place without the express permission of the CRZ Authority. This makes all construction activity in mangrove areas a violation of CRZ rules. Since 1985, The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation has been maintaining these large tracts of quality mangroves in the city. The marine life even corals at this part of the coastline has been regenerated. In the aftermath of 26/7, Vikhroli witnessed minimal flooding owing to these mangroves. The Sewri Mangrove Park consisting of 15 acres of mangroves also preserves the stretches of mangroves.

 By educating, informing and sensitizing all landholders about various aspects of this precious resources and their sustainable use. Contour ploughing is another measure to conserve our land. By this method, the fields are ploughed, harrowed and sown along the natural contour of the hills. By terracing method: A series of wide steps are made along the slop following the contours. This method is very common in rice growing regions. Under the afforestation and reforestation programmes, planting of trees, bushes and grass help to check the soil erosion, Strict actions are taken to check reckless felling of trees and overgrazing. Shelter belts (rows of trees) are planted on the margins of desert areas to check the fury of wind.

 NLC has been practicing CSR in its best form for around 6 decades, well integrated with its day to day business and focused on people and the planet. Continuous Mine Closure and Reclamation of Minedout Lands and mine spoil slopes are concurrently planned and executed with the respective Mine plans. So far, 2500 hectares of mined out lands have been reclaimed by nourishing the backfilled soil. Paddy, coconut trees, fruit bearing trees and vegetables are grown on the reclaimed land.

 An artificial lake in Mine I reclaimed area and the surrounding a forestation have become perfect setting for a bird sanctuary and a deer park. Stabilization of slopes of over burden dumps through cultivation of appropriate crops/plantation at an outlay of Rs.540 Lakhs is in progress.

 Angul is a town located in the state of Orissa. The state government had issued notification to the people for the acquisition of land for the prepared 1980 MW power plant by J. R. Power Jain company two years ago.

The company wants to acquire 1000 acre land for the project. Out of which 300 acre are government land and rest privately owned.

 There is a committee known as JJKSC has been taking actions against setting up a power plant because many villages like Dhaurapalli, Barada Malia, Jairat, Karamala Kata and Baija would be affected if the project comes up. Residents of about 23 villages are on a strike since March 10 last yr protesting against the decision of the government to set up the plant. President of the JJKSC Dinabandhu Pradhan told TOI, "The state government had issued notice for land acquisition without taking us into confidence. The area, which is notified for the project, is highly fertile for cultivation of paddy and other crops. If the company sets up the plant, it would not only affect the livelihood of farmers but also affect the environment."

 Later he said that the state government, instead, should focus on developing the irrigation system in the area and also he demanded for a construction Sureswari Irrigation Project should start immediately. The JJKSC has called for a protest meeting on February 22 at Barapada in Kishore Nagar, where chief minister Naveen Patnaik had announced construction of irrigation project two years back. Collector Arvinda Agrawal said, "We have forwarded their demand to the state government. Besides, we have invited the villagers to come to the discussion table.

 Degradation of land includes soil erosion, salinization, nutrient depletion, and desertification. The rate of degradation has increased dramatically with growth in human populations and technology. Severe land damage affects large scale agriculture. Restoration is very problematical in such cases. Continued loss of arable land will jeopardize our ability to feed the world population. Land degradation is worldwide - both developed and developing countries. Land management therefore has to be viewed as a highly complex sphere of activity. It reaches beyond typical sectors such as agriculture and forestry, and includes aspects of water, soil, biodiversity, regional value creation, rural-urban-relations, quality of life, division in shrinking and prospering regions, etc. Sustainable land management is the key to preserving the resources upon which we have built our prosperity as well as securing them for following generations.