Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals through Geospatial Analysis of Groundwater Resources, Landslide Susceptibility, Land Use Dynamics and Tourism Sustainability in Shimla District

Abstract

Mountain ecosystems provide us ecological services, including freshwater resources, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and livelihood support. However, increasing urbanization, tourism expansion, land-use transformation, and climate variability have intensified environmental pressures across the Himalayan region. Although groundwater resources, landslide hazards, land use dynamics, and tourism sustainability have been widely investigated, these environmental components are commonly examined in isolation, limiting their usefulness for integrated planning and policy formulation. This study presents an integrated geospatial assessment framework that synthesizes previously completed investigations on groundwater potential mapping, landslide susceptibility assessment, multi-temporal land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics, future land-use prediction, and tourism sustainability for Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, India. Rather than generating new thematic maps, the study integrates existing spatial evidence to examine the interactions among natural resources, environmental hazards, landscape transformation, and developmental pressures within a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) perspective.
The integrated analysis demonstrates that changes in land use influence groundwater recharge, urban expansion increases exposure to landslide hazards, and tourism development intensifies pressure on natural resources. Collectively, these interactions affect environmental resilience and the sustainability of mountain settlements. The proposed framework establishes explicit linkages between the study outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The study concludes by proposing an integrated geospatial decision-support framework to assist planners, resource managers, and policymakers in balancing environmental conservation with socio-economic development in mountain regions.