Forest and Land Use Pattern Trend in Arid Rajasthan

This paper intends to assess the forest growth and land utilization pattern in the arid region of Rajasthan over the period 1960-1961 to 1997-1998. Rajasthan has around 7.44 per cent (1997-98) of the total geographical area under forest but in the arid region of the State only 2.0 per cent area (4,174 km², 1997-1998) comes under forest. Based on the agroclimate the arid region of Rajastban has been classified into four zones viz. Arid Western Plain (Zone-IA), Irrigated North Western Plain (Zone-IB), Transitional Plain of Inland Drainage (Zone-IIA) and Transitional Plain of Luni Basin (Zone-IIB). The data on the land use pattern and forest area indicate that in the past 37 years arid region recorded an increase in area under forest as well as that under non agricultural uses and net area sown, whereas that under barren land, old fallow, and culturable waste declined considerably. The forest area increased from 0.81 % in 1960-1961 to 2.01 % in 1997-1998 recording an ACGR of 3.66 % as compared to the State as a whole (3.04 %). After witnessing an insignificant ACGR of the forest area in the 1960s, the arid region withessed the highest ACGR of 7.47 % in the 1970s. Similar trend was also observed for the different zones and the State. The human as well as livestock population density of the region has increased from 37 (1961) to 84 (1991) and 66 (1961) to 132 (1997), respectively. Considering the increasing biotic pressure on the land in arid Rajasthan and the trend of more intensive land cultivation on larger area there is need to accelerate the growth afforest in this region so that the natural base here could be improved to sustain the vital life support systems and also to help in bringing about favourable changes in the harsh climate of the region.