SUKANTA MANDAL; Anagh Chatterjee
Abstract
The terrestrial surface of the earth constitutes a finite portion of the biosphere, referred to as "land," that encompasses a complex array of attributes immediately above or below the surface, including the near-surface climate, soil and terrain typology, surface hydrology (such as shallow lakes, rivers, ...
Read More
The terrestrial surface of the earth constitutes a finite portion of the biosphere, referred to as "land," that encompasses a complex array of attributes immediately above or below the surface, including the near-surface climate, soil and terrain typology, surface hydrology (such as shallow lakes, rivers, marshes, and swamps), near-surface sedimentary formations and associated groundwater reserves, vegetation and faunal populations, human settlement patterns, and physical evidence of past and current human activities (FAO, 1995, p. 6). It is well acknowledged that land serves as the foundation upon which human civilization has been constructed and flourished, as it is the most elementary resource of human society. However, the quantifiable amount of land available is unalterable, thus necessitating the judicious and scientifically informed utilization of this precious resource for the preservation of human existence. In light of this, the examination of land use patterns assumes paramount importance for resource planning, cultural development, and regional or national economic growth. The present study endeavours to analyse the trend of land use and land cover changes in the Rampurhat CD Block -II from 2000 to 2020, a crucial task in view of the current global scenario of changing land use patterns.
