Assessment of desertification potential using IMDPA model in Sistan plain

In this research، desertification intensity of sistan plain was evaluated using IMDPA the newest method of Assessment of Desertification Potential in arid and semi arid regions of Iran. For this purpose 4 criteria selected including vegetation cover، soil، climate and wind erosion. Each criterion was assessed based on the selected indices which result in qualitative mapping of each criterion cased on geometric average of the indices. Then، sensitive map of region was extracted using geometric average of all criteria. Thematic databases، with a 1:50000 scale resolution، were integrated and elaborated in a GIS based on arc/info8، arc view3. 2 and especially ILWIS. By laminate of thematic databases layers and using this formula DM= (SI×WEI× VI×CLI) 1/4 to Calculate the geometric mean Criteria. Then Desertification intensity map was obtained with analysis IMDPA Model. The result showed that 51. 09% of study area was found to be in medium and about 45. 09% in high class of desertification. And while 3. 82% of the region in clouding Residential and Water tanks (CHAH NIME) there aren’t in any classification. Analysis of desertification criteria in Sistan region showed that among study criteria، wind erosion criteria is a major problem with a geometric average of 1. 67 which shows high class while soil with a weighted average of 1. 34 has lowest effect in desertification. Also vegetation cover and climate criteria with a geometric average of 1. 51 and 1. 57 show middle class desertification.