LAND-USE CHANGE BETWEEN 1978 AND 1990 IN DHANKUTA-DISTRICT, KOSHI HILLS, EASTERN NEPAL

Land-use change over a 12-year period was investigated for a pilot are a of 200 km2 of the Middle Mountain zone in Dhankuta District. The stu dies were based on interpretation of air photographs taken in 1978 and 1990 and field checks on a sample of 13 sites of 300 ha each, represe nting a 20% sample. Six categories were mapped: agriculture (7 sub-cat egories); abandoned farmland; forest (7 sub-categories); grazing; shru b; and other (such as landslides, urban, and water). Separate measurem ents were made of crown cover of trees within arable lands. Population changes were estimated by house counts on the air photographs. The re sults indicated a stability in land use, despite an estimated 19% incr ease in population. No statistically significant changes in overall la nd use were detected but considerable internal trading occurred betwee n categories within sample areas, especially between ''forest'' and '' shrub,'' demonstrating a fluidity of land use. Total forest cover incr eased from 36.5% of the sample area in 1978 to 38.8% in 1990. Forest l and increased by 34%, indicating a significant improvement in on-farm fodder, fuelwood, and fruit tree resources. Landslide areas increased from 1.0% of the total sample in 1978 to 1.9% in 1990. The method deve loped proved to be rapid and sufficiently accurate for determining far m-level land-use changes in steeply dissected mountain terrain.