Monitoring of Sheep Migration in Arid Region of Rajasthan, India Using EO Data

Abstract

The annual aggregate spatially normal rainfall is extremely variable and most erratic in the western arid region of Rajasthan state. As a result, it frequently experiences spells of drought. Surface water resources are also meagre and distributed unevenly. Drought is a multi-dimensional phenomenon and its direct impacts include like withering of crops, drying of watering points, reduction in fodder for livestock, etc. Such crisis eventually compels Rebari pastoralists to migrate to other places and regions as a coping mechanism against the scarcity of fodder and water in the arid zone of Rajasthan. The scarcity of fodder at any time is a function of stocking rate and carrying capacity of the system at that time, which is affected mainly by the amount of precipitation and livestock population. This has been covered through analysing migration routes and determinants by using the data collected from the ATS plus GPS Collars. It has been found that biomass density changed following grazing across gradients and ground cover. Also, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was 5-10% lower inside the grazing area than outside the grazing area.