I= SOCIO-ECONOMICS DIMENSIONS AND ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION IN CHOLISTAN
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Title of Thesis
SOCIO-ECONOMICS DIMENSIONS AND ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION IN CHOLISTAN
Author(s)
Farooq Ahmad
Institute/University/Department Details
University of Karachi/ Department of Geography
Session
2001
Subject
Geography
Number of Pages
230
Keywords (Extracted from title, table of contents and abstract of thesis)
cholistan, socio-economics dimensions, ecological destruction, land degradation, agricultural encroachment, rangelands, desertification, hakra depression

Abstract
The proposed study sought to identify socio-economic mechanisms used traditionally by indigenous communities to manage their natural resources, to highlight contemporary forces leading to land degradation, agricultural encroachment on rangelands, fluctuations in vegetation biomass in Cholistan which is influenced primarily by the seasonality of rainfalls, periodic droughts and social discord. UN Convention to Combat Desertification takes a firm stand on the significance of incorporating the local system of resource use into the national level planning and implementation of development action. The proposed research work thus comes under the purview of the UN Convention to Combat desertification. The efforts to improve the Cholistan desert environment should focus on limiting agricultural expansion while assisting herders to enhance their economic and social status by facilitating access to affordable sources of grazing and to marketing avenues that would improve nomads’ terms of trade withurban consumers in form of pastoral produce. The approach must be regional, but the interventions must take into account specific ecological and human activities. In this study, the objectives are threefold, 1) to point out the main causes of desertification in Cholistan; 2) Vegetation biomass in Cholistan, and 3) Rain water harvesting to combat the desertification process in Cholistan. These objectives will be achieved by studying he perception of local people through questionnaire for which random samples will be drawn from selected areas. The record of various governmental departments, like Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Cholistan Development Authority, Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies, Arid Zone Research Station and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, will be examined. The data will be supplemented by the atellite imageries, which is the most credible and modern sources of information in today’s geography. From all these sources, I will collect essential data alongwith esirable maps to achieve the objectives of this research.

Download Full Thesis
3778.39 KB
S. No. Chapter Title of the Chapters Page Size (KB)
1 0 Contents
165.43 KB
2 1 Introduction 1
643.48 KB
  1.1 The Problem 1
  1.2 Scope And Objectives 4
  1.3 Significance Of The Study 8
  1.4 Approach And Methods 9
  1.5 Sources And Quality Of Data 10
  1.6 International Strategies: Un-Ccd 12
  1.7 Water Resources 14
  1.8 Climate And Vegetation Cover 17
  1.9 Historical Overview 23
3 2 Historical Background Of Cholistan 28
238.83 KB
  2.1 Introduction 28
  2.2 Cholistan: Cradle Of Hakra Valley Civilization 28
  2.3 Arehaic Views About Hakra Depression 37
  2.4 Khawaja Fareed : The Desert Poet 45
  2.5 Conclusion 47
4 3 Extent Of Desertification 48
560.25 KB
  3.1 Overview 48
  3.2 Topographical Form And Runoff Collection 61
  3.3 Quality Of Water 67
  3.4 Ecological Restoration 73
  3.5 Strategic Interventions 73
  3.6 Conclusion 74
5 4 Socio-Economic Dimensions Of Desertification In Cholistan 75
304.54 KB
  4.1 Overview 75
  4.2 Social Organization 76
  4.3 Transhumant 77
  4.4 Nomadic System 80
  4.5 Nomadic-Sedentary Conflict 81
  4.6 Colonization Of Cholistan 82
  4.7 Gender Division Of Labour And Poverty 84
  4.8 Natural Grazing 89
  4.9 Traditional Grazing System 91
  4.10 Carrying Capacity 91
  4.11 Livestock Numbers 92
  4.12 Actual Drinking Water Requirement 94
  4.13 Conclusion 95
6 5 National And International Awareness: Grassroots Initiatives 96
494.87 KB
  5.1 Debate On Desertification 96
  5.2 Negotiation Of The Convention 102
  5.3 A Brief History Of The Incd 102
  5.4 Brief Debate Of A Convention 103
  5.5 Fundamental Principles 104
  5.6 Debate On National Action Programme 110
  5.7 Elements Of An Ideal National Action Programme 111
  5.8 Issues In Desertification Control 112
  5.9 Mechanism For Building A National Action Programme 119
  5.10 Implementation Phase 120
  5.11 Role Of Local Bodies In Implementation Of Ccd 123
  5.12 Main Features Of Ccd 124
  5.13 Role Of Local Government 125
  5.14 Conclusion 130
7 6 Impact Of Desertification 131
324.94 KB
  6.1 Overview 131
  6.2 Local Population 132
  6.3 Social Hierarchy 133
  6.4 Hazard Perception 136
  6.5 Local Perception 136
  6.6 Infrastructure 142
  6.7 Quality Of Life 145
  6.8 Conclusion 148
8 7 Resource Evaluation 149
1040.41 KB
  7a Plant Genetic Resources In Cholistan 149
  7b Possibilities For Range Development And Its Distribution In Cholistan 165
  7c Leptochloa Fusca : A High Yielding Candidate Grass For Utilization Of Salt-Affected Soil And Water Resources In Cholistan 185
  7d Adaptation Of Australian Forage Shurbs In Cholistan 193
  7e Conclusion And Suggestions 208
9 8 References 216
295.62 KB
  8.1 Appendix-I