Participatory land use planning of village Abdul Khel district D.I. Khan Kyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (P-0818) (MFN 6337)

Abstract

Many dramatic and unpredictable changes occur in land use of Pakistan in past few decades. The driving forces are climate, socioeconomic, geophysical and proximity factors. Participatory Land use planning is the process that identify the sustainable and optimal use of the piece of land to its maximum productivity under given social, environmental and economic conditions. This study “participatory land use planning” is a step forward to initiate and implement the Land use planning process by making it socially, economically and environmentally acceptable to local communities. Five classes of existing land use and land cover were identified covering an area 17.39 km2 by range land, 14.57 km2 rainfed agriculture, 13.16 for non-irrigated, 1.41 for settlements and 0.47 km2 by water bodies respectively. The data collection was done by using two different questionnaires including village profile and household to identify the needs and issues faced by the community. Remote Sensing and GIS based analysis were done by using Landsat 30 m resolution data for the year 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. The analysis showed the increase in herb and shrubs/khana grass acting as the indicator for land degradation since no agricultural activity was done in that area. The percentile area for shrubs has increased about 15% whereas of herbs an increase of 6% has been observed. The participatory land use plan was developed by identifying the different interventions and are overlaid in the environment of GIS to visualize the spatial correlation. These interventions are identified on the basis of existing land use/ land cover, participation of local community keeping in view the topological information of the study area. Interventions like the earthen bunds are placed around the river and water bodies to avoid gully and rill erosion. The rain water harvesting pond are intervened on rain fed agricultural area according to elevation of the place. Also wind breaks are intervened to control erosion of soil thorough wind. The some of the interventions like maternity home, vocational training institute and tube wells for drinking water are recommended near to the settlement for the ease of the people. ����