Development of Rural and Peri-Urban Landscapes : Socioeconomic and ecological perspectives of urbanization in India

Human effects on ecosystems are a big concern all over the world and it is particularly important to understand human influences on the rural and peri- urban landscape which are getting transformed because of the process of rapid urbanization. The current study was undertaken to understand the change process in peri-urban and rural landscapes and analyzed the various driving forces that are leading such changes in land use and land cover. The theoretical approach developed here is based on standard driving forces which influence the farmer's decision and behaviour. In the process of urbanization, the main driving forces which influence farmers' decision are market forces, socio-economic and cultural changes, policies and national economy. These are widely accepted from a global to a local scale. However, knowledge on micro level perspective of urbanization and its impact on socio-economic and ecological development of rural and peri-urban landscapes, and long term implications within the context of sustainable development is limited in Indian context.