جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "unep method" در نشریات گروه "آبخیزداری، بیابان، محیط زیست، مرتع"

A temporary model to assess desertification and providing the map of land susceptibility to the reducing processes of land efficiency was proffered by FAO and UNEP. The results of regional implementation of the FAO and UNEP method in Gharachay watershed are presented in this article. In this method, five major processes of land degradation were evaluated with two aspects including "current status" and "inherent risk". For any of these aspects, the maps of low, moderate, severe, and very severe desertification were separated and the area of each class was calculated. Then, the maps of main processes affecting desertification were integrated together and two maps including "current status and inherent risk" were provided. Afterward, the maps of livestock pressure and human population were prepared. In order to obtain the total risk of desertification, the four mentioned maps were integrated and finally the risk of desertification classes were calculated. In view of the current desertification status in the studied region, the following results were obtained: The highest vegetation decline (76%) was observed in the east, south, and center of the region. The highest percentage of water and wind erosion (45.2%, 57.9%) was obtained in the south and east respectively; the highest soil salinization (34.7%) was observed in the east. In addition, the highest loss of groundwater resources was observed in the center and east of the region. The highest livestock pressure (58.3%) was recorded in the center of region; however, population pressure had little impact on environmental degradation. The area of each category, including low, moderate, severe, and very severe, was calculated to be 39.4, 27.9, 25.1, and 7.3 percent, respectively. Overall, according to the obtained results, the natural and human factors, particularly livestock pressure, were effective to create these conditions.

Desertification is a global problem and most of arid and semi-arid countries of the world including Iran face the phenomenon. Desertification causes many limitations in terms of agriculture, food supply, livestock farming, industry development and so forth. The phenomenon is a process that has gradually developed and intensified and the costs of modifications increase exponentially. Therefore, identification and assessment of factors effective in desertification, and determining the regions affected by this disaster are necessary for each region. FAO and UNEP method is considered as one of the best methods to evaluate desertification in which several processes are investigated. Vegetation degradation, water erosion, wind erosion, decline in the quality and quantity of water resources and soil salinization as well as livestock and population pressure on the environment are considered as the main processes in this study. This study was carried out in a twenty-year period with considering the oldest data, aerial photographs and satellite images. To evaluate each process, several indicators were considered and selected indicators were evaluated by field and library work. Four classes of low, moderate, severe and very severe were also selected for separation of desertification intensity. Each process was studied from three aspects i.e. current situation, velocity and the potential of desertification. Desertification maps were generated in GIS and then integrated to produce final map of desertification. According to the results, 125853 ha (%23), 251504 ha (%45), and 158819 ha (%29) were classified in classes of low, moderate, severe and very severe, respectively. Severe desertification mainly was observed in mountainous areas with slopes over 60 percent, and in saline and sodic marginal lands of Kavire-e-Meighan basin. Vegetation degradation and water erosion were identified as the main factors of desertification in this basin and livestock grazing was the main cause of worsening desertification. Obtained results provide a basis for better recognition and proper combating desertification in this area.