A recent study led by Nagaland University has found significant environmental degradation in Kohima, driven by rapid urbanisation, declining forest cover, rising temperatures and increasing seismic activity.
Published in December 2023 in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, the research provides a comprehensive geospatial analysis of the district’s fragile geo-ecological systems using advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) modelling and remote sensing techniques.
The study found that natural landscapes – including forests, scrublands and water bodies – have declined sharply from 93.93 per cent to 81.86 per cent over the past two decades. At the same time, built-up areas, agricultural land and wasteland have expanded due to increasing human activity.
Researchers also recorded a steady rise in average temperatures at a rate of about 0.13°C per year, alongside declining annual rainfall and fewer rainy days – trends that heighten the risk of droughts, landslides and extreme weather events.
Adding to the concern, analysis of earthquake records from 1982 to 2022 revealed more than 1,100 seismic events in the district, averaging around 27 micro-earthquakes annually. Most were linked to tectonic faults and geological lineaments, contributing to landscape instability and erosion.
The study identifies three major forms of environmental degradation in the region-geodiversity, ecological and climatic – warning that their combined impact is increasing the likelihood of floods, erosion and other geohydrological hazards affecting ecosystems, agriculture and human settlements.
Highlighting the significance of the findings, Vice-Chancellor Prof Jagadish K Patnaik said the study offers “valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and stakeholders,” and can support informed decision-making for sustainable development and environmental management in the North East Hill region.
Prof MS Rawat of the Department of Geography described the region as “highly fragile” due to continuous seismic activity, landslides and unstable geological conditions, cautioning that the current rate of land-use degradation is accelerating broader environmental challenges, including climate change.
“If necessary measures are not taken as soon as possible, it may lead to severe subsequent impacts,” he said, stressing the need for effective geospatial technologies and action-oriented management strategies.
The research was conducted by Dr Khrieketouno Belho and Prof MS Rawat from Nagaland University, along with Dr Pradeep Kumar Rawat from the Uttarakhand Open University Study Centre, using an integrated GIS database modelling system.
By analysing geodiversity, land use and climate parameters together, the study presents what researchers describe as a “holistic framework” for understanding environmental risks and guiding climate adaptation strategies in the ecologically sensitive North East Hill region.