Agroforestry land suitability analysis in the Eastern Indian Himalayan region

Abstract

Indiscriminate deforestation and shifting cultivation have accelerated soil erosion requiring the need for immediate conservation measures in the eastern Indian Himalayan region (EIHR). The present study attempts to address the problem by evaluating the land suitability of the EIHR for agroforestry through multi-criteria evaluation modelling through GIS. Several variables related to climate, soil, topography, ecology, and socioeconomic criteria having high relevance for agroforestry were analysed and integrated to generate an agroforestry suitability map. The model output reveals that 60,523 sq. km (~77%) of the region's arable land has very good to good suitability for agroforestry, while 21,281 sq. km (~27%) area has very good suitability. The cross-validation by utilising ground-based and literature-based information of existing agroforestry mostly supported the agroforestry suitability map. The study concludes that agroforestry land suitability can be assessed through a multi-criteria approach. The land suitability of the area can be enhanced further by suitable interventions such as improving soil fertility, soil and water conservation.

Keywords

• Multi-criteria decision approach (MCDA)
• Land management
• Land suitability analysis
• GIS
• North-eastern region