Prof M S Rawat of the Department of Geography, School of Sciences, Nagaland University.
GIS-based study by NU sheds light on land use impact on river flow
Lumami, February 11 (MExN): Researchers from Nagaland University (NU) have completed a GIS-based hydrological study examining how geo-ecological conditions and human activities influence runoff and river flow in the North Eastern Himalayan hill region, an area long marked by data gaps and scientific debate.
The research addresses a critical and contested question in Himalayan science — the hydrological impact of land use change on river discharge, floods and environmental degradation.
Beyond advancing scientific understanding, the study proposes a practical four-zone runoff classification — low, moderate, high and very high — to support water resource planning, flood mitigation and integrated watershed management.
According to an update received here, the methodology and findings are expected to benefit policymakers, planners and local communities, while also serving as a transferable model for other fragile regions across the Himalaya and India.
Emphasising the university’s role in undertaking research of importance to the region, Nagaland University Vice Chancellor Prof Jagadish K Patnaik congratulated the team for producing what he described as a benchmark GIS-based hydrological study on land use change and river flow in the North Eastern Himalayas.
“This work is timely and significant, as it enhances our understanding of runoff patterns, flood risks and sustainable water management in fragile hill ecosystems. Such research not only strengthens scientific knowledge but also supports informed policy and planning for the region’s environmental security and resilience,” Patnaik said.
The study, titled ‘GIS Modeling to Investigate Geo-ecological and Anthropogenic Impacts on Runoff and River Flow in the North Eastern Hilly Region of India’, was conducted by Dr K Belho and Prof M S Rawat of Nagaland University along with Dr Pradeep Kumar Rawat of Asian International University, Imphal.
The research was funded by Nagaland University through a Non-NET Fellowship and supported by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
The findings have been published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Geographic Information System Research and Development, which carries original research and applied studies on GIS theory, technologies, spatial analysis and geospatial applications across disciplines.
Elaborating on the technical aspects, Prof M S Rawat of the Department of Geography, School of Sciences, Nagaland University, said the team focused on four experimentally monitored watersheds in Kohima district.
He said the researchers combined advanced geospatial techniques with systematic field-based hydrological measurements — an approach rarely attempted in the Indian Himalayas. The study generated continuous stream discharge data across contrasting land-use systems, including dense forests, open forests, agricultural lands and urban landscapes, creating one of the first benchmark hydrological datasets for the North Eastern Himalayan region.
Dr K Belho of the same department said the findings reveal stark contrasts in runoff behaviour across geo-ecological systems.
“Dense, undisturbed forest landscapes showed a strong capacity to absorb rainfall and sustain sub-surface flows during non-monsoon months, while urban and heavily modified landscapes generated high monsoon runoff and significantly reduced lean-season flows,” Belho said.
The researchers quantified these differences through runoff ratios, demonstrating how increasing anthropogenic stress amplifies flood risks while weakening water availability during dry periods.
Dr Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Consultant Professor at Asian International University, Manipur, said the study underscores the need for more instrumented experimental catchments and long-term hydrological monitoring stations across the Himalayan region.
Such infrastructure is essential for reliable flood forecasting, environmental hazard assessment and evidence-based sustainable development in one of the world’s most sensitive mountain ecosystems, the researchers noted.
A video of Prof M S Rawat explaining the research has also been made available online, according to the update.
