Strategies for Arresting Land Degradation in South Asian Countries

Abstract

A study was conducted in parts of Western Ghats and West Coast of Southern Karnataka to assess the land degradation status and vulnerability covering different physiographic units. Seven soil profiles representing different physiographic divisions viz., steep hill ranges, steep low hill ranges, isolated hills and dissected hills and valleys, elongated ridges and foot hill slopes, undulating uplands, lateritic plateau and lateritic mounds, coastal plateau summits, valleys, bars and ridges and beaches and marshes (lower laterite terrace) were identified based on soil morphological, physical and chemical properties. Based on climate, terrain and soil characteristics, the land degradation status and vulnerability was evaluated and categorized into different vulnerability grades viz., very low, low, medium, moderate and high. The status of degradation and vulnerability status assessed in the study area ranged from 0.45 to 0.83. Considering the scale of land degradation, undulating uplands have been placed at high level of land degradation (Molahalli) followed by coastal plateau summits and lower lateritic terrace with moderate land degradation (Murdeswar and Ullal), while steep high hills and low hills and their side slopes showed medium category of land degradation (Sullya and Belthangadi), whereas, elongated ridges and foot hill slopes were recorded as low (Brahmavar) and very low (Kollur), respectively. The simple model used to arrive at the degradation vulnerability can be replicable to hot high rainfall areas of humid tropics.