CAUSE AND EFFECT OF LANDSCAPE AT COONOOR, NILGIRIS- CASE STUDY.

TABLE 1: EFFECT OF CLEARANCE OF FOREST AREAS:

The following tables gives details about the clearance of forest areas in coonoor in the recent years.
Clearance of forest areas

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid less than 20% 15 33.3 33.3 33.3

20-40% 25 55.6 55.6 88.9

greater than 60% 3 6.7 6.7 95.6

no idea 1 2.2 2.2 97.8

5.00 1 2.2 2.2 100.0

Total 45 100.0 100.0

The clearance of forest areas as perceived by the people of coonoor is as follows- 33.3% indicate it
is less than 20% , 6.7% of people think that it is greater than 60%, majority of people around 55.6% think that
it is between 20 and 40% and 2.2% of people doesn’t have any idea about it.
This clearly indicates that about 20-40% of the forest areas are being cleared every year at
coonoor and this might probably be the cause for landslide in coonoor.

TABLE 2: EFFECT OF INCREASE IN RAINFALL

The following table indicates the increase in rainfall in the recent years in coonoor.
Increase in Rainfall

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid low 4 8.9 8.9 8.9

moderate 15 33.3 33.3 42.2

high 20 44.4 44.4 86.7

very high 6 13.3 13.3 100.0

Total 45 100.0 100.0

The increase in rainfall as perceived by the people of coonoor is as follows- 8.9% of people say
that there is less increase, 33.3% say that there is moderate increase, 44.4% say that there is high increase and
13.3% say that there is very high increase in rainfall as compared to previous years.
 This statistics clearly indicates that there is high increase in rainfall which is unevenly
distributed as compared to previous years which might have lead to landslides in coonoor.

TABLE 3: EFFECT OF CONSTRUCTIONS ON DEFORESTED LAND:

The following table indicates the type of construction that is done on deforested land in coonoor
Kind of construction on deforested land

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid building houses 25 55.6 55.6 55.6

road 17 37.8 37.8 93.3

gas and oil pipeline 3 6.7 6.7 100.0

Total 45 100.0 100.0

The data gathered has revealed that 55.6% of the deforested land is being used for building
houses, 37.8% of the deforested land is used for road construction, and 6.7% of the deforested land is used
for gas and oil pipeline construction.
This statistical data reveals that about majority of land area is being deforested for building
houses in coonoor which indicates increase in population in these areas.
TABLE 4: EFFECT OF CHANGE IN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
The following table indicates the changes in agricultural practices that was done in coonoor
recently.
Change in agricultural practices

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid less than 2 months 10 22.2 22.2 22.2

2 -6 months 16 35.6 35.6 57.8

6-12 months 3 6.7 6.7 64.4

more than 12 months 8 17.8 17.8 82.2

no idea 8 17.8 17.8 100.0

Total 45 100.0 100.0

The data collected reveals that 22.2% change in agricultural practices was seen in less than 2
months, 35.6% change in the past 2-6 months, 6.7% change in past 6-12 months, 17.8% in the past 12 months
and 17.8% of population had no idea.
 The statistics clearly shows that agricultural practices at coonoor were subjected to drastic
change in the past 6-12 months which might have attributed to the occurrence of landslides .

TABLE 5: EFFECT OF POPULATION

The following table indicates the about the growth of population in the recent years.

Population

Cumulative
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent

Valid somewhat increased 11 24.4 24.4 24.4

increased 17 37.8 37.8 62.2

greatly increased 12 26.7 26.7 88.9

decreased 2 4.4 4.4 93.3

no idea 3 6.7 6.7 100.0

Total 45 100.0 100.0

The table shows that 24.4% of respondents feel that the population is somewhat increased,
37.8% feel that population is increased, 26.7% believe that population is greatly increased,4.4% think that it
is decreased and remaining have no idea about it.
This reveals that the overall population at coonoor has been increased which might be the
major cause of deforestation which has ultimately lead to landslides.

TABLE 6: STATISTICAL DATA

The following table shows the mean, median, mode and standard deviation of the chosen
variables.
 Statistics

Kind of Change in Conversion of

Clearance of Increase in construction on agricultural forest area into
forest areas rainfall population deforested land practises land

N Valid 45 45 45 45 45 45

Missing 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mean 1.8444 3.6222 2.3111 1.5111 2.7333 3.0000

Median 2.0000 4.0000 2.0000 1.0000 2.0000 3.0000

Mode 2.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 2.00 3.00

Std. Deviation .82450 .83364 1.10417 .62603 1.45227 .85280

TABLE 7: CROSS TABULATION

The following table indicates the cross tabulation results between reason for landslide occurrence
and construction on deforested land.
 Reason for landslide occurrence * kind of construction on deforested land Cross tabulation

Count

Kind of construction on deforested land

gas and oil

building houses road pipeline Total

Reason for landslide deforestation 13 5 1 19

occurrence unseasonal rainfall 7 9 2 18

improper cultivation 3 1 0 4

encroachment 2 2 0 4

Total 25 17 3 45
TABLE 8: CHI SQUARE TEST

The following table shows the results of chi square test

Chi-Square Tests

Asymp. Sig. (2-

Value df sided)

Pearson Chi-Square 4.587a 6 .598

Likelihood Ratio 5.097 6 .531

Linear-by-Linear Association .168 1 .682

N of Valid Cases 45

a. 8 cells (66.7%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum

expected count is .27.
TABLE 9: CORRELATION ANALYSIS

The following table shows the correlation analysis.