Index Integrating Soil, Vegetation, Climate and Management Qualities to Evaluate Desertification in the Northwestern Coast, Egypt

Abstract

In Egypt, the phenomenon of desertification is a geographical phenomenon that is related to the decline or deterioration of the land's biological production capacity, which will eventually result in semi-desert conditions, or, in other words, the loss of fertility from productive lands. An understanding of the geographical distribution of environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) is necessary for sustainable land use in the dry lands. The characteristics of the research region and the Mediterranean desertification and land use (MEDALUS) approach were used to evaluate the environmental sensitivity to desertification on the west-north coast of Egypt. Remote sensing images, topographic data, soils, and geological data are used to calculate desertification indicators. A hotspot of desertification risk exists on the north coast of Egypt due to soil degradation, climatic conditions, geomorphological and topographic features, soil quality and soil uses in each area. In each of these areas, these variables lead to varying levels and causes of soil degradation and desertification, as well as varying environmental, economic, and social effects. The obtained data reveal that (10.6%, 82.73%) of the west north coast are Sensitive and Very sensitive areas to desertification, About 1.22% of the research area is the moderately sensitive area, while the low sensitive and very low exhibit only (4.21,1.48) %. Remote sensing and GIS are recommended to monitor sensitivity. MEDALUS factors can be modified to obtain more reliable data at the local level.