Community-scale analysis of the farmland abandonment occurrence process in the mountain region of Ladakh,India |
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| Authors: | Takayoshi Yamaguchi Sonam Ngodup Mitsuhiro Nose Shinya Takeda |
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| Institution: | 1. Carbon and Nutrient Cycles Division, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Science, Tsukuba, Japan;2. Leh Office, Ladakh Ecological Development Group, Leh, India;3. Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;4. Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Farmland abandonment has been a significant issue in mountain regions. Thus, many studies have attempted to uncover its driving factors. Most existing studies take a large- or meso-scale view of mountain regions, and there are a few studies that provide community-level analysis. Therefore, it is unclear how ecological and sociopolitical factors are actually combined to influence farmland abandonment at a community level. Thus, we conducted a field survey in the mountain village of Ladakh, northern India, beginning in 2009 and tried to understand the farmland abandonment occurrence process from the viewpoint of traditional altitudinal models of land use. Using data collected during the survey, a relationship between altitude and farmland abandonment was established. However, this relationship was complex, combining traditional forms of land use system in the village. The altitudinal model of land use was very common in mountain regions; thus, discussions of current land use issues should be based on an understanding of such traditional altitudinal systems. |
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| Keywords: | Altitudinal land use cadastral map community scale survey farmland abandonment Ladakh mountain regions |
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