Assessment of Land Degradation and Desertification with Use of IMDPA Model (Case Study; Chahhashm Plain, Iran)

Objective: More than 75 percent of Iran is located in arid and semiarid then land degradation and desertification are one of the crises ecological. We require a proper understanding of causes and processes of desertification to control the huge phenomenon on the global and regional situation. Because southeast of Iran located in arid land then assessment of desertification is very importance for planning of project. Methods: In this study, using GIS techniques to assess desertification with IMDPA model in 27.020 Ha of Chahhashm Plain. Results: Result show vegetation criteria (2.97) is more effective than climate criteria (2.68) and other hand aridity index (3.92) is most effective index and continuing drought (1.6) index is less effective index in this area. Result indicated intensity of desertification is in high class with 2.82 numerical value. In this area some limitations such as lack of rainfall, high temperatures, high evaporation, the instability and sensitivity to soil erosion is a natural limits of the area and cannot be control but with improved irrigation methods, education and extension service for the optimization use of agricultural land can be move to improve the situation and to assist in slowing desertification