Availability of timely and reliable data, in a suitable form are important tools for effective development planning and decision making. In the complex mountain environment of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) data requirement is particularly pivotal for sound and sustainable planning for the region, as this not only influences the inhabitants of the hill region but also millions living down the flood plains. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful tool that can be used to improve the information available for mountain development. The strength of GIS lies in its ability to integrate data and information from different sources using a common geographical reference. While the information could be made available in both raw and processed forms, e.g., in tables, presentation of data in pictorial form makes it much more effective for decision making.

The present document is an outcome of efforts by colleagues associated with the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) on Himalayan Ecology who have made use of the existing GIS facilities of Mountain Environment and Natural Resource Information System (MENRIS) Programme at this Institute; the demographic information databases of Census Handbooks, Socio-economic information from District Statistical Handbooks and other sources have been integrated with maps prepared from various sources, e.g., the Survey of India, National Atlas and Thematic Map Organization (NATMO). In future it is expected to include other information of importance, such as, landuse, etc., in this database. Such continuous upgradation should provide basis for assessing complex interaction between population and landuse changes in the Himalayan region. For effective human resource utilization in marginal environments, such as IHR, availability of such databases, will substantively assist policy planners as well as administrators implementing development programmes.

The present volume prepared by the ENVIS team of this Institute, headed by Dr. K.S. Rao, should be seen as an initial step towards compilation, management and utilization of large databases, across different agroclimatic zones and socio-cultural/economic set ups with underlying complex interactions existing in the IHR. During the preparation of this volume valuable inputs and constructive suggestions were provided by Professors B.K. Joshi and Amitabh Kundu; their help is gratelly acknowledged. It is expected that this Monograph will go some way towards meeting the data/information requirements of researchers, administrators and policy planners who are requested to provide feedback in improving the database for effective information dissemination.