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An Assessment of the Desertification Vulnerability based on MEDALUS model

Desertification and Land Degradation risk is one of the major environmental and socio-economic problem which constantly affects the global environment. Reduction or loss of land productivity caused by natural processes and human activities is land degradation which leads to desertification. The flaw in any system can be measured by basic concept of vulnerability. In the present study, desertification vulnerability assessment was carried out using geographic information system (GIS) for mapping sensitive areas using Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) approach, which identifies such sensitive areas on the basis of an index in which environmental quality as well as anthropogenic factors are included as layers for Surendranagar district of Gujarat state in India. Many aspects of vulnerability arising from natural and human factors were considered in this study. Soil, climate, land utilization, geography and vegetation contribute in the land degradation of any area. Indices related to these factors have been generated. Socio-economic factor is a one of the major input to assess desertification vulnerability as anthropogenic activities. As a result in this study MEDALUS model has been used for both natural and socioeconomic factors for finding the severity level of the desertification vulnerability in Surendranagar district.