Taking Stock of Our Earth's Resources Is Crucial for Effective Integrated Watershed Care

Title

Taking Stock of Our Earth's Resources Is Crucial for Effective Integrated Watershed Care

Author

1. Chandan Sharma, Scientist, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Lawley Road, Coimbatore, India

Abstract

Soil degradation, water shortages, falling efficiency, rising temperatures, and societal decline are some of the issues that land, the most essential natural resource, faces today. Since rainfed regions in India are so pervasive and have so much promise for increasing agricultural yields via improved utilization of resources, they must be developed as quickly as possible. Adopting a comprehensive watershed management plan that integrates human involvement in diversifying natural assets to support overall societal growth is the most effective method for handling these rainfed regions. Conducting a complete land resource survey is the first and most important stage in establishing a watershed control program, which is then followed by careful planning, efficient execution, careful monitoring, and exhaustive assessment. Our study included a comprehensive LRI at a scale of 1:3960 of the Dwarkeswar Micro-Watershed in the Puruliya region of West Bengal. Soil type, underlying land use, topography, climate, and vegetation were all considered in this exhaustive survey. We identified and mapped ten physiographic units and nine different soil series over the examined region. We created an organizational unit map that serves as a powerful tool for efficient land use development by using these criteria and considering the current socio-economic situation and requirements. This map may effectively drive the watershed management strategy.

Keywords

Conclusion

The current Micro-Watershed strategy integrates the deliberate and efficient utilization of Earth's resources through collaborative endeavours among local end-users. In contrast to the dominant approach of solely focusing on infrastructure enhancements to alleviate poverty, an alternative income source has emerged by safeguarding local resources. The authors have dedicated their efforts to elaborating on this concept, recognizing it as the sole means to reconcile human civilization and Earth's resources while preventing resource depletion. By embracing this new paradigm, which holds particular value in rainfed farming regions, the land and human society can be better safeguarded.

 

Author Contrubution

The author confirms sole responsibility for the following: study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, and manuscript preparation.

Funding

The authors did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Data Sharing Statement

Not applicable

Software And Tools Use

Not applicable

Acknowledgements

I thank the following individuals for their expertise and assistance in all aspects of our study and for their help in writing the manuscript. I am also grateful for the insightful comments given by anonymous peer reviewers. Everyone's generosity and expertise have improved this study in myriad ways and saved me from many errors.