Remote Sensing and its Scope in Indian Forestry

The decade 1971-81 may well be known as the decade of Resources and Environment in the world. It is vital to survey the earth resources efficiently and timely to get information for planning all development for the economic development of a country. More and more countries are employing remote sensing techniques for rapid assessment of their natural resources. Remote sensing has generated lot of interest. Rapid improvement in the technique in the last decade and especially in the last few years in Western countries, its promise in the field of natural resources like forests, has left many a forester in a curious and uncertain position, with regard to its scope and likely uses in forestry. An attempt is made here to enumerate the recent developments in remote sensing technology, to assess application in forestry and to suggest its utility in Indian conditions. It must he pointed out here that, for want of research in India and tropical countries, one has to solely depend upon the results of reserch made in Western countries and especially that in USA.