Desertification and land degradation vulnerability assessment using integrated geospatial techniques

Abstract

Desertification and land degradation (DLD) are the most serious forms of environmental threat in India. Identification of areas that are more vulnerable to DLD is important for devising strategies to arrest land degradation and desertification. The present study aimed to map the most sensitive areas of DLD in Andhra Pradesh using climate, soil, land use and socio-economic factors. The map of DLD vulnerability index was prepared and divided into five DLD vulnerability classes namely very low, low, medium, high and very high. The results indicated that 13% of the areas were very highly vulnerable to DLD and 15% of areas were highly vulnerable. The very high vulnerability to the desertification threat was identified in Kurnool, Anantapur and Cuddappa districts. This map helps to prioritise the lands for taking up combating plan and measures to arrest the DLD.