Land Use Transitions and Bamboo Based Livelihood Diversification in Karbi Anglong, Northeast India

Abstract

Land use transitions in ecotonal regions of Northeast India illustrate the dynamic interaction between ecological resources, industrial demand, and livelihood change. This study examines three decades of land use and land cover (LULC) change in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, with a focus on bamboo-based systems. Multi-temporal satellite images (1993, 2014, and 2023/24) were classified using the Random Forest algorithm. The 2023/24 map, validated with 700 ground-truth samples, achieved 93.6% overall accuracy and a Kappa coefficient of 0.87. Results indicate three major phases: (i) 1993 – natural abundance, when bamboo was embedded in forest and shifting cultivation systems; (ii) 2014 – plantation expansion, driven by industrial demand and state subsidies, when bamboo became a dominant land cover (24.72%) at the expense of forests and jhum; and (iii) 2023/24 – post-mill diversification, characterized by stable bamboo cover (24.74%), expansion of rubber, tea, and arecanut, and growing built-up areas. These transitions highlight the role of industrial dependence in reshaping landscapes and livelihoods. The study underscores the need for integrated land use policies that balance forest conservation with livelihood diversification and sustain bamboo as both an ecological and cultural resource.