We are
in the Anthropocene and recent studies have revealed that conventional land management strategies diminished
natural landscapes and created anthropogenic
ones. The classification and
characterization of landscapes,
therefore, provide a mechanism for
quantifying anthropogenic changes to the landscape systems in the
Anthropocene. This study was aimed at classifying and characterizing landscapes in the territory of
Adilabad District, Telangana, Deccan region,
India, which was selected as the area of case study. It was a multi-method
approach, where ecogeographic and environmental data were gathered using user/visual-based approach, while socio-economic data were gathered through direct observations, interviews, focus group
discussions, questionnaires and literature surveys. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study was
undertaken by National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station,
Rajendranagar in collaboration with
Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar during 2010-2012. In the
District, a very wide range of land use types was observed. In the last 60
years, the District’s landscape has undergone
a remarkable transformation and fragmentation
as a consequence of anthropogenic activities like deforestation, agriculture expansion, intensive agriculture, transport
infrastructure, urbanization, trade, tourism and recreation. The results
revealed that there is a growing body of evidence supporting the hypothesis
that the geographical space, which is a mosaic of natural and anthropogenic
landscapes (semi-natural and artificial landscapes), is
limited in the District. Hills, valleys, forests, rivers, streams, waterfalls
and lakes were certain natural landscapes with little or no human impact found
in the District. Traditional land
management strategies including burning and clearing practiced by indigenous
tribal communities, the native
inhabitants of the area, have diminished natural landscapes and created
semi-natural and artificial landscapes. Complex interactions between
humans and nature resulted in a rich amalgam of anthropogenic landscapes and
new ecosystems and habitats were created in urban, rural and tribal areas. The
artificial landscapes are classified into three main categories: urban, rural
and tribal landscapes based on the dominant human societies inhabiting them in
the District. Our study identifies the same importance to all types of
landscapes: thus natural, semi-natural, tribal, rural, urban landscapes are the
key factors in cultural identity of the District. Our work on landscape
analysis as a tool for the strategic assessment of the case study area enabled
us to use user/visual-based approach based on the assessment of the visual
fields of the District.
Cite this paper
Reddy, M. T. , Pandravada, S. R. , Sivaraj, N. , Kamala, V. , Sunil, N. and Dikshit, N. (2017). Classification and Characterization of Landscapes in the Territory of Adilabad District, Telangana, Deccan Region, India. Open Access Library Journal, 4, e3745. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1103745.
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