Evaluation of Current Desertification Status Based on IMDPA with Emphasis on Climate, Wind Erosion, Water, Soil and Vegetation: Case Study of Bordekhun Region of Boushehr

Abstract

This study used quantifying factors affecting desertification based on the Iranian model of desertification potential<br />assessment (IMDPA) to assess the current status of desertification in Bordekhun region, Iran. Bordekhun region has an<br />area of 214.11 km2 and is located near the city of Daiyer in Boushehr province. First, a working unit map of the region<br />was selected as the basic map for evaluation of factors and indices of interest. Regional conditions for the five criteria of<br />climate, wind erosion, water, soil, and vegetation were calculated as essential for the study of desertification intensity. The<br />scores for the indices were determined using IMDPA; for each index, a map was prepared employing the calculated<br />weighting. A qualitative map of the criterion was obtained using the geometric mean of indices related to each criterion. A<br />map of current desertification potential was then created for the study area by combining the layers produced for each<br />criterion, determining their geometrical means, and classifying the resultant map. Analysis of the study criteria showed<br />that climate was rated high with a quantitative value of 3.15, wind erosion was high with a value of 2.87, water was<br />medium with a value of 1.77, soil was high with a value of 2.66, and vegetation was medium with a value of 2.37. The<br />results showed that of the total area, 49.12% is classified in the high desertification class, 48.9% is in the moderate class<br />and about 0.99% is not classified. The quantitative value of desertification intensity on the basis of the five criteria for the<br />entire study area was desertification map (DM) = 1.55, which is indicative of the average desertification intensity in the<br />region. The study area is located such that it has the potential for severe desertification. Climate was found to be the<br />dominant criterion and plays an important role in desertification.