Evaluate the effect of climate and water criteria on desertification intensity in Abughover plain using IMDPA model

Desertification is a global phenomenon that is the outcome of natural factors and improper human exploits. Therefore, classification and generation of desertification intensity map, as an efficient tool, plays a significant role in evaluation of the environmental capabilities, prevention of desertification, and restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas. The present study aims to evaluate the desertification hazard and determine the effective criteria affecting desertification in Abu-Ghuyer Plain in Ilam Province, using the IMDPA model. To this end, different indices of climate and water criteria were used and a map was generated for each index according to assigned weights, such that the qualitative map of the desired criteria were obtained using the geometric mean of indicators. Then, through integration and determining the geometric mean of layers obtained from criteria and finally classification of the obtained maps, map of the current status of desertification in the studied area was prepared. The obtained results indicated. Also, among the evaluated indices, amount of annual rainfall in climate criterion and the electrical conductivity in water criterion had the highest impact, with weighted averages of 2.24 and 3.04, respectively. Also, the quantitative value of severity of desertification was calculated to be 1.78 for the entire area, which was in the medium class.