RISK ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIAL MEASURES OF LAND DEGRADATION

Land degradation will remain an important global issue for 21st century because of its impact on the environment, food security and quality of life. Assessment of land degradation is not easy and some methods have been used for this purpose. An important distinction has to be made between the assessments of current state and risk assessment of land degradation. The estimates done on the basis of current state of land degradation reflects what has happened till date and is assessed by direct observation and expert judgment. The risk assessment is based on modelling, calculation and therefore is useful in predicting the potential situation that may occur tomorrow or 10 years from now. This work attempts at evolving a new model for assessing risk of land degradation in southern part of Iran. The main types of land degradation which have been assessed are: water erosion, wind erosion, soil salinization, lowering of ground water table and vegetation degradation. It is hoped, this attempt using GIS which is the first attempt of its kind for defining areas with higher risk of degradation, will be found applicable for other regions.