Analysis of landuse and landcover changes in Kashmir valley, India—A review

Among all the natural and human forces acting on the land surface and shaping Landuse and Landcover (LULC), anthropogenic actions have been a dominant force, which has caused dramatic changes to the LULC throughout the globe. The situation of Kashmir Himalayas is no different. LULC changes are rampant and a cause for several environmental problems in the region. Under the changing climate regime and ever-growing anthropogenic pressures, the long-term analysis of LULC has become a necessity. The present study attempts to track the LULC change through a systematic review of literature, to analyse and discuss the trends and patterns of LULC dynamics in Kashmir Valley. The findings from several studies concerning the region that have applied geospatial technology to detect changes in LULC reveal that the changes have occurred at a faster pace in the last 20 years. Major landuse classes such as agriculture, forest, water, snow, and glaciers have shown a declining trend, in comparison to horticulture and built-up that has shown an increasing trend. These changes in LULC have far-reaching impact on the economy of the region. Climate change, population growth, economic compulsion, and unplanned development among others are the major causes /drivers of intensified LULC changes in the region.