Assess and Mapping the Environmental Sensitivity to Desertification (a Case Study in Boushehr Province, Southwest IRAN)

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study is quantitatively assess the environmentally sensitivity area to desertification based on ESAs (Environment Sensitive Areas to Desertification) model in the southwest part of Iran (Boushehr Province was taken as a case).The thematic layers of soil, vegetation, climate and management are the main data required for estimating the desertification sensitivity index. These layers were extractedand manipulated from the available topographic map data, geologic map, satellite image, and field survey data analyses. Spatial analyst function in ArcGIS software was used for matching the thematic layers and assessing the desertification index, of which the map of environmentally sensitive areas of study area is produced.The results obtained reveals that the study area comprises of three sensitivity classes such as critical (C3), critical (C2) and Fragile (F2) to desertification, on basis of the calculated desertification sensitivity indices (DSI). It is seen that the critical (C3) sensitive areas for desertification in study area are found in the western and central parts, these areas represent 56.42% of the study area. The areas of critical (C2) sensitive for desertification represent 38.78% of the total area. The other parts of the study region are characterized by Fragile (F2) sensitivity for desertification as they represent 3.87 % of the total area.By noticing the evaluated factors, it is understandable that the climate factor has the intensive effect on desertification throughout the study region that they are out of control by human being.