Abstract
An approach to derive relationships for defining land degradation and desertification risk and developing appropriate tools for assessing the effectiveness of the various land management practices using indicators is presented in the present paper. In order to investigate which indicators are most effective in assessing the level of desertification risk, a total of 70 candidate indicators was selected providing information for the biophysical environment, socio-economic conditions, and land management characteristics. The indicators were defined in 1,672 field sites located in 17 study areas in the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Based on an existing geo-referenced database, classes were designated for each indicator and a sensitivity score to desertification was assigned to each class based on existing research. The obtained data were analyzed for the various processes of land degradation at farm level. The derived methodology was assessed using independent indicators, such as the measured soil erosion rate, and the organic matter content of the soil. Based on regression analyses, the collected indicator set can be reduced to a number of effective indicators ranging from 8 to 17 in the various processes of land degradation. Among the most important indicators identified as affecting land degradation and desertification risk were rain seasonality, slope gradient, plant cover, rate of land abandonment, land-use intensity, and the level of policy implementation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen H, Adriaanse A, Rodenburg E, Bryant D, Woodward R (1995) Environmental Indicators. World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C., p 49
Arnab K, Dipanwita D (2011) Monitoring desertification risk through climate change and human interference using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Int J Geomat Geosci 2(1):21–33
Basso B, De Simone L, Cammarano D, Martin EC, Margiotta S, Grace PR, Yeh ML, Chou TY (2012) Evaluating responses to land degradation mitigation measures in Southern Italy. Int J Environ Resour 6(2):367–380
Benabderrahmane M, Chenchouni H (2010) Assessing environmental sensitivity areas to desertification in Eastern Algeria using Mediterranean desertification and land use “MEDALUS” model. Int J Sustain Water Environ Syst 1(1):5–10
Brandt J, Geeson N (2005) Desertification Information System to Support National Action Programmes in the Mediterranean (DISMED). DIS4ME, Desertification Indicator System for Mediterranean Europe. www.unibas.it/desertnet/dis4me/. Accessed 20 Feb 2012
COP9 (2009) Advice on how best to measure progress on strategic objectives 1, 2 and 3 of the strategy. Decision 17/COP.9. http://www.unccd.int/. Accessed 30 June 2011
Danalatos NG, Kosmas C, Moustakas N, Yassoglou N (1995) Rock fragments II: their impact on soil physical properties and biomass production under Mediterranean conditions. Soil Use Manage 11:121–126
Dregne H, Kassas M, Rozanov B (1991) A new assessment of the world status of desertification, UNEP. Desertification Control Bull 20:6–18
EEA (2005) Technical report EEA core set of indicators, Guide/No1/2005
Enne G, Zucca C (2000) Desertification indicators for the European Mediterranean region: state of the art and possible methodological approaches. ANPA, Roma and NRD, Sassari, p 261
Finke P, Hartwich R, Dudal R, Ibanez J, Jamagne M, King D, Montanarella L, Yassoglou N (1998) Georeferenced soil database for Europe, Manual of procedures, version 1. European Soil Bureau, Scientific Committee
Gerontidis St, Kosmas C, Detsis V, Marathianou M, Zafiriou Th, Tsara M (2001) The effect of moldboard plough on tillage erosion along a hillslope. Soil Water Conserv J 56:147–152
Imeson AC (1996) Desertification research—Thematic issues and spatial and temporal scaling. In: Hill J, Peter D (eds) The use of remote sensing for land degradation and desertification monitoring in the Mediterranean basin. European Commission, Brussels
Kosmas C, Yassoglou N, Kallianou Ch, Danalatos N, Moustakas N, Tsatiris B (1993) Field site investigation: Spata. Athens, Greece. In: Mediterranean desertification and land use—MEDALUS I final report. Commission of the European Communities. Contract Number EPOC-CT90-0014-(SMA), p 581–607
Kosmas C, Yassoglou N, Moustakas N, Danalatos N (1995) Field site: Spata, Greece. In: Mediterranean desertification and land use—MEDALUS II final report. Basic Field Programme. Commission of the European Communities. Contract Number EV5V-CT92-0128, p 129–163
Kosmas C, Kirkby M, Geeson N (1999) Manual on: key indicators of desertification and mapping environmentally sensitive areas to desertification. European Commission, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, EUR 18882, p 87
Kosmas C, Danalatos NG, Gerontidis St (2000a) The effect of land parameters on vegetation performance and degree of erosion under Mediterranean conditions. Catena 40:3–17
Kosmas C, Gerontidis St, Marathianou M (2000b) The effect of land use change on soil and vegetation over various lithological formations on Lesvos. Catena 40:51–68
Kosmas C, Gerontidis St, Marathianou M, Detsis V, Zafiriou Th (2001) The effect of tillage erosion on soil properties and cereal biomass production. Soil Tillage Res J 58:31–44
Kosmas C, Tsara M, Moustakas N, Karavitis C (2003) Identification of indicators for desertification. Ann Arid Zone 42:393–416
Le Bissonnais Y, Arrouays D (1997) Aggregate stability and assessment of soil crustability and erodibility: II. Application to humic loamy soils with various organic carbon contents. Eur J Soil Sci 48:39–48
Liniger H, Schwilch G, Gurtner M, Mekdaschi Studer R, van Lynden G, Critchley W (2007) Word Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies. A Framework for Documentation and Evaluation of Land Conservation, http://www.wocat.org/. Accessed 12 Oct 2011
Milne RM, Haynes RJ (2004) Soil organic matter, microbial properties, and aggregate stability under annual and perennial pastures. Biol Fertil Soils 39:172–178
Moustakas NC, Kosmas CS, Danalatos NG, Yassoglou N (1995) Rock fragments I. Their effect on runoff erosion and soil properties under field conditions. Soil Use Manage 11:115–120
Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1996) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: AL Page et al. (ed) Methods of soil analysis, part 2, 2nd ed., Agronomy, vol 9. American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Madison, pp 961–1010
OECD Key environmental indicators (2004) http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/32/20/31558547.pdf. Accessed 20 Sept 2011
Oldeman LR (1988) Guidelines for general assessment of the status of human-induced soil degradation. Working paper 8814. ISRIC, Wageningen
Oldeman LR, Hakkeling RTA, Sombroek WG (1990) World map of the status of human-induced soil degradation. An explanatory note. ISRIC/UNEP, Wageningen
Parvari S, Pahlavanravi A, Nia A, Dehvari A, Parvari D (2011) Application of methodology for mapping environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) to desertification in dry bed of Hamoun Wetland (Iran). Int J Nat Resour Marine Sci 1:65–80
Recatala L, Fabbri AG, Zink JA, Frances A, Sanchez I (2002) Environmental indicators for assessing and monitoring desertification and its influence on environmental quality in Mediterranean environments. In: Rubio J, Morgan RPC, Asins S, Andreu V (eds) Man and soil at the third millennium, ESSC vol 1., pp 897–910
Rubio JL, Bochet E (1998) Desertification indicators as diagnosis criteria for desertification risk assessment in Europe. J Arid Environ 39:113–120
Rubio JL, Recatala L (2006) The relevance and consequences of Mediterranean desertification including security aspects. In: Kepner WG, Rubio JL, Mouat DA, Pedrazzini F (eds) Desertification in the Mediterranean Region: a security issue. Springer, Netherlands, pp 133–165
Salvati L (2011) The spatial nexus between population growth and land degradation in a dry Mediterranean region: a rapidly changing pattern? Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 19:81–88
Salvati L, Bajocco S (2011) Land sensitivity to desertification across Italy: past, present, and future. Appl Geogr 31:223–231
Salvati L, Zitti M, Ceccarelli T (2008) Integrating economic and ecological indicators in the assessment of desertification risk: suggestions from a case study. Appl Environ Ecol Res 6:129–138
Sepehr A, Hassanli AM, Ekhtesasi MR, Jamali JB (2007) Quantitative assessment of application of methodology for mapping environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) to desertification in south of Iran using MEDALUS method. Environ Monit Assess 134:243–254
Steel R, Torrie J, Dickey D (1997) Principles and procedures of statistics: a biometrical approach. WCB/McGraw-Hill, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, p 666
Symeonakis E (2004) Monitoring desertification and land degradation over sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Remote Sensing 25(3):573–592
Tisdall JM, Oades JM (1982) Organic matter and water-stable aggregates in soils. J Soil Sci 33:141–163
Tsara M, Gerontidis St, Marathianou M, Kosmas C (2001) The long-term effect of tillage on soil displacement of hilly areas used for growing wheat in Greece. Soil Use Manage J 17:113–120
UNEP (1992) World Atlas of Desertification. United Nations Environment Programme. Edward Arnold, London
Van Engelen VWP, Wen TT (1995) Global and National Soils and Terrain Digital Databases (SOTER). Procedures Manual. International Soil Reference and Information Centre-ISRIC, Wageningen
Van Engelen VWP, Batjes NH, Dijkshoorn K, Huting J (2005) Harmonized global soil resources database (Final Report). Report 2005/06, FAO and ISRIC—World Soil Information, Wageningen
Wascher DM (ed) (2000) Agri-environmental indicators for sustainable agriculture in Europe. European Centre for Nature Conservation, Tilburg, p 240. ISBN 90-76762-02-3
Acknowledgments
The research described in this paper was conducted within the framework of the EC-DG RTD, 6th Framework Research Programme (sub-priority 1.1.6.3), Research on Desertification, project DESIRE (037046): Desertification Mitigation and Remediation of Land—a global approach for local solutions. The financial support by the European Commission is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kosmas, C., Kairis, O., Karavitis, C. et al. Evaluation and Selection of Indicators for Land Degradation and Desertification Monitoring: Methodological Approach. Environmental Management 54, 951–970 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0109-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0109-6