Nagaland Study Reveals Rapid Environmental Degradation in Kohima District

The paper was co-authored by Dr Khrieketouno Belho and Prof. M.S. Rawat from the Department of Geography, School of Sciences, Nagaland University, along with Dr Pradeep Kumar Rawat from the Uttarakhand Open University Study Centre and was published in a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on monitoring, assessment, and management of environmental quality, brought out by the prestigious Springer Nature.

The research was supported by the Nagaland University through a Non-NET Fellowship awarded to Dr Belho and by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Elaborating on the research significance, Prof M.S. Rawat said that geo-environmentally and anthropogenically, the region is highly fragile due to continuous seismotectonic activities, landslides, slope failures, fragmented unstable geology, geomorphology and steep rugged topography, as well as a very high frequency of natural hazards and disasters. He said that the region is passing through alarming and threatening conditions due to a high rate of land use degradation, which is accelerating other associated global environmental problems, such as climate change and its adverse impacts.

"It is therefore essential to mitigate the current environmental change and degradation. If necessary, measures are not taken as soon as possible, it may lead to severe subsequent impacts. This study contributes a holistic approach to tackling such kinds of environmental issues," he said.

He added that it has been the need of the hour to adopt the most effective and reliable geospatial technology and action-oriented management strategy so that the risk of environmental degradation could be mitigated.

Using an integrated GIS database modelling system, the researchers analysed environmental change through three major modules -- Geodiversity Informatics, Land Use Informatics and Climate Informatics.

This approach allowed the team to examine multiple interconnected environmental parameters, including geological structures, land-use patterns, vegetation cover, rainfall, temperature and ecological habitats.

"Our study found that Kohima district is undergoing rapid environmental transformation. Natural landscapes such as forests, scrublands and water bodies had declined from 93.93 per cent to 81.86 per cent over the past two decades, while built-up areas, agricultural land and wasteland increased steadily due to expanding human activity. We also documented a rise in average temperatures at a rate of about 0.13 degrees Celsius per year, along with declining annual rainfall and fewer rainy days," Prof Pradeep Kumar Rawat said.

Further, Dr Belho said: "Geoenvironmentally, the Northeast hill region is highly vulnerable to monsoon hazards. The socio-economic and demographic setup is also highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. We believe that this study constitutes an important and internationally significant contribution to the understanding of the geoenvironmental and ecological problems caused by the geoecological, anthropogenic and climate change pressures in the region."

In addition, the study highlighted the region's geological fragility. Analysis of earthquake records from 1982 to 2022 revealed that more than 1,100 seismic events occurred in Kohima district, averaging around 27 micro earthquakes per year with less than 4 to 2 magnitudes. Most of these were linked to tectonic faults and geological lineaments that contribute to landscape instability, erosion and landslides.

The study emphasised the need for evidence-based planning and sustainable land management strategies in the environmentally sensitive Himalayan region. By integrating geospatial technologies with environmental data, the research provides a comprehensive framework that policymakers and planners can use to better understand environmental risks and develop climate adaptation strategies, university officials said.

University officials said that the researchers hope the findings will contribute to improved environmental monitoring, climate resilience planning and sustainable development in the northeastern hill region and the broader Indian Himalayan landscape.

The research addressed growing concerns about environmental degradation in the Himalayan and North East Hill regions caused by both natural processes and human activities. These include rapid urbanisation, deforestation, shifting cultivation practices, and climate change, which together contribute to increasing risks such as landslides, floods, droughts and extreme weather events.

Highlighting the university's continued commitment to studying issues of great importance to the Northeast region, Vice Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik said that Nagaland University has undertaken a significant research initiative using GIS technology to map environmental degradation in Kohima.

"The study presents a comprehensive geospatial analysis highlighting rapid land-use changes, emerging climate trends, and seismic vulnerability in the region. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and stakeholders, contributing to informed decision-making for sustainable development and effective environmental management in the North East Hill Region," he said.

- IANS