Question

Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?

Answer 1

Hint: Land use pattern is the arrangement or layout of the uses of the land which may be used for agriculture, pasture, agriculture, construction, etc. The factors for which the land can be used is determined by many factors like relief features, climate, the density of the population, soil, technical, and socio-economic factors.

Complete answer: The land is a resource that is the most important for the survival of human beings. Land use pattern is the arrangement for the uses of land for different purposes. The most important types of land use patterns in India are Forests area, Land not available for cultivation, Cultivable wastelands, Fallow land, Net area sown. The usage of land depends on two factors: Humans and physical.
- Physical factors: It depends on the nature of lands, such as topographies, climate, and soil types.
- Human factors: It relies on human activities and usage such as population density, culture and traditions, and technological capability.
The land under the forest has not increased since 1960-61 because the demand for land has increased for agriculture and industrialization. The Green Revolution led to the expansion of agriculture and led to clearances of the forests. As of present, only 21.67% of land area in India is covered by forests, which should be ideally 33%. Industrialization and urbanization have also led to a decrease in the forest area. As the population is increasing the need for houses is also increasing which is leading to deforestation and decreasing the forest cover of the country. Almost 54% of the area of India is now available for cultivation, out of which 25% is wasteland and 3% is grassland. The other land is used for urban developments. Hence, because of all these factors, the land under forest has not increased much since 1960-61.

Note: The most important types of land use patterns in India are Forests area, Land not available for cultivation, Cultivable wastelands, Fallow land, Net area sown.