干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The classification and provision of a desertification intensity map as an efficient tool has an important role in the evaluation of environmental capability, the prevention of desertification and the reclamation of degraded lands. Models and methods such as the Medalus method, the Iranian Classification of Desertification (ICD) and others have been proposed on the local, national and international scales. These models, however, have some deficiencies such as exotic and qualitative indices and expert error. We investigated the ability of the Modified Numerical Taxonomy (MNT) model to assess the sensitivity of lands to desertification and applied it in the Khezr Abad region in central Iran from July 2004 to October 2005. The use of this method, with the application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS), improved the accuracy and speed of determining the sensitivity of the desert area. Desertification indices were investigated comprehensively, systematically and quantitatively. The results also showed that the MNT model has an adequate capability to assess desertification intensity and provide a desertification intensity map. The quantitative value of desertification intensity from all effective criteria was 0.74 which is categorized as severe (intense). The quantitative value of desertification intensity from natural indices and criteria was 0.77 (very intense), whereas for the human indices criteria, it was 0.44 (moderate). These values are in agreement with the prevailing natural indices and criteria used in the study of desertification.