Impact of Land Use Land Cover Dynamics and Climate Change on Snow Cover and Farmland Abandonment in the Upper Beas Valley, Western Himalaya, India

This study examines long-term land use dynamics in the Upper Beas Valley, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya, India, with a focus on climate change impacts. Using geospatial techniques and Landsat satellite imagery (1993–2023), Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes were assessed with high accuracy (user’s accuracy, producer’s accuracy, and Kappa statistics [Formula: see text]). Results show significant shifts: agricultural land and vegetation remained stable until the early 2000s but later declined due to farmland abandonment, while barren land and urban areas expanded. A notable reduction in snow cover was observed, linked to climate change. The study highlights how warming temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, urbanization, and population growth are driving these changes, impacting water availability and ecosystem services. The reduction in snow cover, vital for regulating river flow and providing irrigation and drinking water, raises concerns about future water scarcity and increased drought risk.