Methodology for mapping Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) to desertification

Abstract

The different types of ESAs to desertification can be analysed in relation to various parameters such as landforms, soil, geology, vegetation, climate, and human action. Each of these parameters is grouped into various uniform classes with respect the its behaviour on desertification and weighting factors are assigned in each class. Then the following four qualities are evaluated (a) soil quality, (b) climate quality, (c ) vegetation quality, and (d) management quality. After the computation of four indices for each quality, the ESAs to desertification are defined by combining them (Fig. 14). All the data defining the four qualities are introduced in a regional geographical information system (GIS), and overlaid in accordance with the developed algorithm and maps of ESAs to desertification are compiled. This approach includes parameters which can be easily found in existing soil, vegetation, and climate reports of an area.