Landscape dynamics in the northeast part of Andhikhola watershed, Middle hills of Nepal

Abstract

Depopulation and increasing greenery due to agriculture land abandonment is general scenario in many highlands of Nepal in recent decades. High resolution remote sensing image is used in land use change analysis. Recently, object based image analysis technique has helped to improve the land use classification accuracies using object based image analysis. Thus, this study was carried out with high resolution image data sources and innovative technique of land use classification in the northeast part of Andhikhola watershed, in the Middle Hill of Nepal. Increasing greenery due to agriculture land abandonment in the hill slope is the major land use change. Secondly, increasing built-up area in lowland along the highway is another. Decreasing hill farmers is the major drivers of converting cultivated land into vegetated area and increasing built-up area is due to urbanization and shift of rural people from hill slope to lowland and accessible area. Converting cultivated land into forest, shrubs and grassland is at marginal land and remote areas which is mostly controlled by altitude, slope gradient and slope aspect. Additionally, land suitability and accessibility are also other important controlling factors.

Himalayan watersheds in Nepal record high soil erosion rates estimated using the RUSLE model and experimental erosion plots

“…Like the Tinahukhola watershed, the Aadhikhola watershed has a dominant forest cover. This is followed by shrubland and cropland, covering nearly 27% of the area, whereas the built-up area, grassland, and water bodies cover only 7% of the total area [ 30 ].…”

Changing gender role declines maize yield, but remittances offset: Findings from migrant households in the central Himalayas, Nepal

“…Being the second most grown food crop in Nepal, maize farming is a part of farmers’ complex livelihood system. Literature suggests that labor out-migration can reduce male labor availability at the origin, increase farmland abandonment, decrease farm animals and farmyard manure, reduce technology adoption (Acharya et al, 2019; Chidi et al, 2019; Dulal et al, 2020; Gartaula et al, 2020; Hussain et al, 2016; Khatri-Chhetri et al, 2020), questioning the sustainability of maize farming. When one or more household members migrate, there are consequences in household labor dynamics and gender relations, be it in labor availability for household and agricultural tasks, household income through remittances for hiring laborers, or the ways households decide on agricultural activities (Adhikari and Hobley, 2015; Gartaula and Patel, 2012; Halbrendt et al, 2014).…”