Detecting and Assessing Desertification using Landscape Metrics in GIS Environment (Case Study: Ain-e-khosh Region, Iran)

In Iran, desertification and landscape fragmentation are occurring as a result of demographic pressure, agricultural expansion, government policies and environmental factors such as drought. In this study, land use/cover and landscape change dynamics were investigated using satellite remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS). Landscape metrics were derived from land use/cover maps of the years 1977 and 2007 to indicate desertification in the study area, Ain-e-khosh region, Iran. Using Ain-e-khosh region as a case, this study aims to test landscape metrics capability in indicating desertification and analyzing temporal fragmentation changes. The temporal change analysis of fragmentation provides detailed characterization of desertification processes. Poor rangeland and barren land areas have become more fragmented and are characterized by the proliferation of much smaller and less connected patches. Results show a decrease in poor rangeland with an increase of agricultural land and sand plate areas. This suggests that anthropogenic activities driven by agricultural expansion are among the main causes of landscape fragmentation, leading to landscape degradation in the study area. This study demonstrates effectiveness of the RS and the GIS in detecting, assessing, mapping, monitoring and generating essential quantitative information on desertification.