Question

Explain land use pattern in India why has the land under forest

Answer 1

Land-use pattern in India is a dynamic concept. It changes over space and time. Land-use pattern in India is as follows:
1. About 46% area is the net sown area in the country.
2. Forests occupy about 22% of the reporting area.
3. The cultivable waste land accounts for nearly 5% of the area.
4. The fallow land covers about 8% of the total area.
5. Permanent pastures and tree crops cover only 5%.
6. The land not available for cultivation is nearly 14% of the total area.
The factors which determine land use are two fold:
(a) Physical – climate, soil and relief.
(b) Human – culture, tradition and technology.
The main causes for the change in Land-use pattern are –
1. Growing human population
2. Urbanization
3. Industrialisation,
This then varies from state to state also. The above mentioned factors are also responsible for the decrease in land under forest which is around 19% i.e. 14% away from 33% norm of UNO body on environment protection but a slight improvement after 1960-61 i.e. of 22% of the total geographical area.

Answer 2

Land is also used for other non-agricultural purposes such as housing, roads and industry. According to the data for 2002-03, about 54% of the total land area is cultivable or fallow, 22.5% is covered by forests and 3.5% is used for grazing. The rest is waste land, with traces of miscellaneous cultivation.