[INDOLOGY] Land use in ancient North India

[Howard Resnick]

Dear Scholars,

Are there any reliable estimates of land use in ancient India, especially in the main areas of Northern India where Mahābhārata events take place? I am especially interested in relative precentages and locations of land reserved as forests, or great forests (mahā-vanāni), and land actively farmed. Nowadays it seems that in the North Indian plains there are precious few great forests.

Many thanks for any resources, especially links to relevant maps.

Best wishes,
Howard