Identifying hotspots in land use land cover change and the drivers in a semi-arid region of India

This in-depth study quantifies the spatio-temporal long-term land use/land cover change (LUCC) in the Mula Pravara river basin, and uncovers major drivers of these changes. The river basin is located in a semi-arid region of Maharashtra state, India. The study demonstrates the advantages of using satellite remote-sensing techniques to monitor LUCC, which is useful for predicting future land use development and for providing evidence to underpin adaptation strategies. Overdependence on groundwater could have serious implications for sustaining agriculture in the region; groundwater regulation should be prioritized by implementing the Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2009.