ABSTRACT
Uttar Pradesh is historically and demographically one of the most significant states of India. Approximately 80.7% of the total area of the state is agricultural land and 6.4% of the area is the forest area, and rural and urban development and mining area cover more than 5% of the total land cover of the state. The state shares its national boundary with nine other states and its international boundary with Nepal. Uttar Pradesh is naturally gifted with abundant natural resources and has three main topographical regions, namely, the Terai-Bhabar region in the north, the alluvial Gangetic plains constituting the central portion and the southern plateau region. Due to the abundance of the fertile soil of the Indo-Gangetic plain, agriculture contributes highest to the economy of the state and is titled the “Rice Bowl of India”. Those extremely fertile alluvial soils range from sandy to clayey loam with a hue of mixed red and black or red-to-yellow. The major source of the surface water in the state is the mighty river, the Ganges and its tributaries. The state is blessed with many rivers and a rich monsoon season thus making it a home to a wide network of dams and reservoirs. Due to its varied climate and topography, the state is rich in flora and fauna, increasing its natural resources in the state despite widespread deforestation and poaching. The details about the natural resources occurring in the state and environmental concerns on soil and rocks are also included in the chapter.
