In many mountainous regions of Asia, natural resource degradation and socio-economic development exhibit varying trends due to differences in resource availability, management, infrastructure, and market access. This co-existence of biophysical and socio-economic issues raises questions about the relationship between resource availability, usage, degradation, and living standards, as well as the factors influencing future development. The book investigates the integration of biophysical conditions and socio-economic development using a combination of socio-economic and spatial methodologies. It employs remote sensing, GIS, and other analytical tools to explore farming system development and land use sustainability, testing various future problem-solving strategies for sustainable natural resource management and improved living standards for rural farming families. The study characterizes land use dynamics through remote sensing, socio-economic variables via family surveys, and biophysical conditions through resource endowment and geographical accessibility. Conducted in a small mountainous watershed in Nepal, it examines the link between people and the environment while addressing land use dynamics and the social and biophysical drivers of change. The book emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies that connect social and biophysical themes across spatial and temporal scales, offering a methodological framework applicable t
