Spatiotemporal nexus between the pattern of land degradation and land cover dynamics in Iran

Abstract

Abstract In recent decades, extensive land transformations and environmental and climate change events such as floods and droughts, increasing heat waves, and forest fires have been observed in Iran. Monitoring and intensity analysis of the land cover dynamics and land degradation in Iran are lacking due to the lack of fine resolution land cover data. In this paper, we explore the type, extent, and intensity of land transformations and the intensity of transitions among land cover classes from 2000 to 2010 using GlobeLand30 land cover data. Our results indicate that approximately 35% of Iran changed during 2000–2010, due mainly to the active gain of barren land. Furthermore, the increase in barren targeted grass and shrub. Barren expansion in Iran is alarming because most of the country is located in arid and semi‐arid regions. Iran has actively participated in desertification combat plans, and thus, it is critical to explore extra intervals of land dynamics. This will help to evaluate the temporal rate of land degradation at multiple intervals and assess the effectiveness of desertification management strategies. Additionally, investigating the role of climate and human‐made interventions into the type and extent of land transformation is recommended.