The study region, Morni hills, which forms a part of the Himalayas in the Siwalik hills lies in the district Panchkula of Haryana. It encompasses an area of 255km2 supporting a population, which mainly depends on agriculture.The traditional rural landscape, integrating agricultural, pastoral and silvicultural activities, has in the past limited the catastrophic effects of human impact. Recently, intensive land use and accelerated development have led to excessive soil erosion, water shortages and loss of biological diversity, inevitably affecting long term ecological stability and environmental sustainability. Morni hills are composed of a fragile mix of clay, rocks and boulders and experience heavy erosion during the monsoons. Landslides are common, especially where the natural stability of hill slopes has been disturbed by cutting roads and paths into the hill, rendering the structure unstable. Therefore, the protection and conservation of this landscape is justified.
