Estimating cropland reduction in Nepal with remote sensing data

Jonathan Teufel

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis explores the use of remote sensing to estimate cropland reduction in Nepal. Topographic and climatic conditions have always made agriculture challenging in this region. Rapid urbanization shifted economic reliance away from agriculture, increasing the pressure on limited fertile land to feed the nation. Climate change is an emerging threat with significant impacts on food production. To protect fertile croplands for future generations it is crucial to monitor the status of croplands. Traditional agricultural surveys are resource-intensive and impractical for nationwide analysis. Utilizing remote sensing data offers a scalable alternative, capable of capturing data across extensive areas without the logistical burdens of ground-level data gathering. This thesis makes use of already pre-processed satellite data to estimate changes in cropland areas, to offer insights into spatial and temporal patterns of land use. The findings highlight significant cropland reduction concentrated around urban areas and rivers, caused by natural and human factors influencing land use. The study underlines the potential of remote sensing in agricultural monitoring and its usefulness for sustainable development strategies in regions facing similar challenges.

Keywords

Nepal, Remote Sensing, Cropland Reduction, Land Cover Change, Land Use Change

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 19. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Miroslava Bavorová, Ph.D.
• Reader: He Yin, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development