Rubber Research body uses satellite derived maps to delineate rubber plantations

The Rubber Study Institute of India has efficiently delineated rubber plantations into small, medium and high landslide danger classes making use of satellite-derived maps of the distribution of rubber plantations and the district-intelligent landslide susceptibility zones designed by the Kerala Point out Catastrophe Administration Authority.

These landslide vulnerable zones had been prepared by integrating numerous databases like topographical maps, distant sensing details, floor truth and geo-complex investigations. The landslide zones had been analysed geo-spatially with satellite-derived rubber plantation maps.

“We can advocate growers to adopt great agricultural procedures at a spot in accordance to its vulnerability to landslides as properly as cultural functions that ought to not be undertaken to minimise the impression of landslides”, the officials mentioned.

Also read: Place rubber finished in continual take note

Kerala is characterised by hilly and undulating terrains with tropical monsoon local climate. Induced by heavy rainfall, the hilly regions of the Point out witnessed two significant landslides creating numerous human casualties and serious damages to the atmosphere and houses in the past pair of yrs.

Extremely rigorous rainfall can destabilise hilly terrains the place natural rubber is a popular crop amid other individuals. Occupying far more than 22 for every cent of the gross cropped area of the Point out, natural rubber plantations are mostly grown on the undulating and sloping terrains of together the foothills of Western Ghats which are more and more turning into susceptible to landslides.

Also read: Place rubber continue to be neutral

Landslide is a natural disaster that can’t be predicted with any degree of absolute certainty. But science-based mostly precautions can empower regional communities to continue to be vigilant, reducing the danger of prevalence of a landslide and its impression on individuals and house if it takes place, the officials mentioned.

Climate adjust has altered the rainfall sample in the Point out and extraordinary weather conditions gatherings such as tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall and floods have become far more frequent and rigorous which can possibly maximize the incidence of landslides in long run.