Land use and geoecological damages: The case of Gorkha

The observations concerning land use and geological damages in the study area of Gorkha were carried out as part of an ecological and geographical project sponsored by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinscaft (DFG). Field work took place in July, October and December of 1983. The research area was fixed by the topographic map "Gorkha - Sirdi Khola: 1:5000" by R Kostka and E Schneider. In particular studies were centred on investigations into the relationship between natural potential and ecologically as well as economically sensible exploitation of the natural resources. In the research area, surfaces of intensive and at the same time ecologically adapted land use may be found immediately adjoining to others which are extremely over-used and degraded. To find out about the background of these different modes of land use and to arrive at conclusions on how to use degraded surfaces profitably and at the same time adapted to the demands of ecology, a number of investigations were carried out. Comparing the Gorkha region with other parts of Nepalese midlands, a considerable number of common characteristics may be emphasised. An increasing population and correspondingly high demand for food, fodder, fuel and timber lead to the clearfelling of the natural forests and the extension of arable land. Due to the natural features of the area such as the monsoonal climate, heavily weathered metamorphic rocks, steep slopes etc. the deforested and today more or less intensively cultivated land is highly susceptible to erosive processes.