Decadal Change in Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics: A Comprehensive Assessment of the Kharun Catchment

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes exert profound influences on environmental and resource dynamics, particularly in developing regions experiencing rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion. This study investigates LULC changes over a 30-year period (1992–2022) in the Kharun catchment, part of the upper Mahanadi basin in Chhattisgarh, India. Encompassing 4,143.17 km² across six districts, the catchment plays a critical role in supporting agricultural and urban activities. Landsat imagery from 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022 was analyzed using supervised classification with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to categorize six LULC types: water bodies, forests, urban areas, upland paddy fields, lowland paddy fields, and barren land. The results reveal dynamic and significant LULC changes. In 1992, water bodies (2.00%), forests (4.86%), and urban areas (1.92%) occupied smaller portions of the landscape, while barren land accounted for 28.64%. By 2002, water bodies slightly increased to 2.12%, forests decreased to 3.98%, urban areas expanded to 3.21%, and barren land reduced to 27.80%. Urban expansion became pronounced by 2012, with urban areas rising to 6.42%, while forests further declined to 3.11%, and barren land reduced to 26.30%. By 2022, water bodies expanded to 2.63%, forests declined significantly to 2.77%, and urban areas surged to 9.35%, indicative of extensive deforestation and urbanization. Barren land continued to decrease, covering 24.15%. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated land-use management strategies that balance developmental needs with environmental conservation. Policy frameworks should prioritize reforestation initiatives, sustainable urban planning, and soil and water conservation practices to mitigate the adverse effects of deforestation and land degradation. Regular and systematic monitoring of LULC dynamics at the catchment scale is essential to support informed decision-making, ensuring ecological integrity and socio-economic sustainability in rapidly developing regions.