Land use pattern of upper tons catchment district,Uttarkashi, U. P.

Aerial Photographs of 1:50,000 scale pertaining to Tons Catchment were used for generating a land use map showing cultivated lands, forests land, grass land, barren land with rock outcrops, snow and glaciers. The area was divided into 4 altitudinal Zones. More than 81% lies above 3000 m height and should be left for natural regeneration. Cultivated land occupies 4.97% of the area and is concentrated below 3000 m altitudinal zone and lies along river courses and on river terraces. Distribution of forest lands in altitudinal zone indicates that percent area covered under forest is higher than the average distribution of forest as reported by Seth (1978). Grass and open scrub, barren Innd with rock outcrops, glaciers and snow covered areas occupy 6.8%, 18.1%, 16.5% and 28.0% respectively.