CONCLUSION

Landslides occur when masses of rock, earth or debris move down a slope.  Mudslides, debris flows or mudflows, are common type of fast-moving landslides that tend to flow in channels. These are caused by disturbances in the natural stability of a slope, which are triggered by high intensity rains. The primary criteria that influence landslides are precipitation intensity, slope, soil type, elevation, vegetation cover and LC type.

In this paper, LU analyses along with forest fragmentation were carried out for five perennial watersheds of Uttara Kannada district. SVM was used to generate probable landslide map. By overlaying the fragmentation map on the landslide probable map, past and future occurrences of landslides can be visualised. It is also evident that degradation of forest and LC change is an important factor that is not only responsible for triggering landslides, but also a major contributor to global warming, climate change, natural resource depletion and consequent detrimental effect on our environment.