Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Land Degradation Vulnerability using Geospatial Technique: A Case Study of Kachchh District of Gujarat, India

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Land degradation is decline in productivity of land in terms of bio-diversity and economy, resulting from various causes including climate and human dominance, leading to loss of ecosystem. It is an issue of global concern and threatens productivity of land, water, biodiversity, ecology, economy, and people. India, with 2.4% of global land area, is homeland for around 18% of global human population and 30.4% livestock population, supporting more than 8% of world’s agriculture with more than 69% area falling under drylands. The blend of high population, high agriculture production and diverse agro-climatic conditions results in excessive pressure on resources. This study is an attempt to access land degradation vulnerability considering human-induced factors, biophysical and climate parameters. Hierarchy-based indexing method is used for analysis using geospatial technique. Study reveals that around 67% of the land area falls under high vulnerability, and 27% area falls under moderate vulnerability. The outcome was further compared with MODIS land surface temperature and normalised difference vegetation index data for validation and is observed that more than 85% area under moderate–high vulnerability is related to increase in surface temperature and/or no-change in vegetation index; this area also falls under low NDVI value range (< 0.3), indicating vulnerable to land degradation. The outcome is useful for stakeholders in understanding the issue and for preparing action plans for combating land degradation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdramane, D., Ye, X., & Amadou, T. (2018). Analysis of Land surface Temperature change based on MODIS data case study: Inner Delta of Niger. . Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences Discusshttps://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2018-208.

  • Ajai, P. S. D., Pathan, S. K., & Ganesh, R. K. (2009). Desertification/land degradation status mapping of India. Current Science, 97, 1478–1483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Census of India. (2011). (MInistry of Home Affairs, Government of india) Retrieved 2019, from Census of India: www.census2011.co.in

  • Coscarelli, R., Gaudio, R., & Caloiero, T. (2004). Climatic trends: An investigation for a Calabrian basin (southern Italy), the basis of civilization-water science? In Proceedings of the UNESCO/IAHS/ 1WHA symposium (pp. 255–266). Rome: 1AI1S Publ.

  • Croitoru, A.-E., Piticar, A., Imbroane, A. M., & Burada, D. C. (2012). Spatiotemporal distribution of aridity indices based on temperature and precipitation in the extra-Carpathian regions of Romania. . Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-012-0755-2.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dharumarajan, S., Lalitha, M., Natarajan, A., Naidu, L. G., Balasubramanian, R., Hegde, R., & SIngh, S. K. (2017). Biophysical and socio-economic causes for increasing fallow land in Tamil Nadu. Soil Use and Management, 33, 487–498. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Didan, K. (2015). MOD13A3 MODIS/Terra vegetation Indices Monthly L3 Global 1km SIN Grid V006. . NASA EOSDIS Land Processes DAAChttps://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD13A3.006.

  • Douglas, J. L., & Laurence, L. A. (2007). Land degradation: Creation and destruction. Rowman & Littlefield.

  • FAO. (2019). FAO. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Retrieved 2019, from http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/?#data/

  • Hulley, G. C., Ghent, D., Gottsche, F. M., Guillevic, P. C., & Mildrexler, D. J. (2019). Land surface temperature. . Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2017-0-01600-2.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Jafari, R., & Bakhshandehmehr, L. (2013). Quantitative mapping and assessment of environmentally sensitive areas to desertification in Central Iran. Land Degradation and Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Julien, Y., & Sobrino, J. S. (2009). The yearly land cover dynamics (YLCD) method: An analysis of global vegetation from NDVI and LST parameters. Remote Sensing of Environment, 113, 329–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2008.09.016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kosmas, C., Kairis, O., Karavitis, C. A., et al. (2014). Evaluation and selection of indicators for land degradation and desertification monitoring: Methodological approach. Environmental Management, 54(5), 951–970. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0109-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kosmas, C., Kirkby, M., & Geeson, N. (1999). The Medalus project-Mediterranean desertification and land use: Manual on key indicators of desertification and mapping environmentally sensitive areas to desertification. . European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahlaoi, H., Hassan, R., Atika, H., Said, L., & Said, M. (2017). Desertification assessment using MEDALUS model in Watershed Oued El Maleh Morocco. Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7030050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamqadem, A. A., Pradhan, B., Saber, H., & Rahimi, A. (2018). Desertification sensitivity analysis using MEDALUS model and GIS: A case study of the Oases of Middle Draa Valley Morocco. Sensors, 18(7), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y., Zhao, M., Motesharrei, S., Mu, Q., Kalnay, E., & Li, S. (2015). Local cooling and warming effects of forests based on satellite observations. Nature Communications, 6(6603), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahapatra, M., Ramakrishnan, R., & Rajawat, A. S. (2015). Coastal vulnerability assessment using analytical hierarchical process for South Gujarat coast India. Natural Hazards, 76(1), 139–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martonne, D. (1920). Géographie physique (Physical geography). . Armand Colin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mildrexler, D. J., Zhao, M., Hein, F. A., & Running, S. W. (2007). A new satellite-based methodology for continental-scale disturbance detection. Ecological Applications, 17(1), 235–250. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2007)017[0235:ANSMFC]2.0.CO;2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NWASCO. (1979). Our land resources. . National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pai, D. S., Sridhar, L., & Badwaik, M. R. (2015). Analysis of the daily rainfall events over India using a new long period (1901–2010) high resolution (0.25° × 0.25°) gridded rainfall data set. Climate Dynamics, 45, 755–776. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-014-2307-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellicone, G., Caloiero, T., & Guagliardi, I. (2019). The De Martonne aridity index in Calabria (Southern Italy). Journal of Maps, 15(2), 788–796. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2019.1673840.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabah, B., & Aida, B. (2018). Adaptation of MEDALUS method for the analysis depicting land degradation in Oued Labiod Valley (Eastern Algeria). In H. M. El-Askary, S. Lee, E. Heggy, & B. Pradhan (Eds.), Advances in Remote Sensing and Geo Informatics Applications. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01440-7_65.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • SAC. (2016). Desertification and land degradation Atlas of India (Based on IRS AWiFS data of 2011-13 and 2003-05). Ahmedabad: Space Applications Centre, ISRO. Retrieved from https://vedas.sac.gov.in/vedas/downloads/atlas/DSM/Desertification_Atlas_2016_SAC_ISRO.pdf.

  • SAC. (2018a). Desertification and land degradation Atlas of Selected Districts of India (Based on IRS LISS III data of 2011-13 and 2003-05) Volume-1 (Vol. 1). Ahmedabad: Space Applications Centre, ISRO.

  • SAC. (2018b). Desertification and land degradation Atlas of selected Districts of India (Based on IRS LISS III data of 2011-13 and 2003-05) Volume-2 (Vol. 2). Ahmedaabd: Space Applications Centre, ISRO.

  • Sahoo, S., Dhar, A., & Kar, A. (2016). Environmental vulnerability assessment using Grey Analytic Hierarchy Process based model. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 56, 145–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvati, L., & Zitti, M. (2009). Assessing the impact of ecological and economic factors on land degradation vulnerability through multiway analysis. Ecological Indicators, 9(2), 357–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2008.04.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvati, L., & Zitti, M. (2009). Convergence or divergence in desertification risk? Scale-based assessment and policy implications in a Mediterranean country. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 52(7), 957–971. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640560903181220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvati, L., Mancini, A., Bajocco, S., Gemmiti, R., & Carlucci, M. (2011). Socioeconomic development and vulnerability to land degradation in Italy. Regional Environment Change, 11, 767–777. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-011-0209-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvati, L., ZItti, M., Ceccarelli, T., & Perini, L. (2009). Developing a synthetic index of land vulnerability to drought and desertification. Geographical Research, 47, 280–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-5871.2009.00590.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, A. K., Rajeevan, M., & Kshirsagar, S. R. (2009). Development of a high resolution daily gridded temperature data set (1969–2005) for the Indian region. Atmospheric Science Letters, 10, 249–254. https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sur, K., & Chauhan, P. (2019). Dynamic trend of land degradation/restoration along Indira Gandhi Canal command area in Jaisalmer District, Rajasthan, India: A case study. Environmental Earth Sciences, 78, 472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8488-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNCCD. (1994). Elaboration of an International Convention to combat desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. United Nations.

  • UNCCD. (2002). Desertification-coping with today’s global challenges in the context of the strategy of the UNCCD. . United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNCCD. (2017). The global land outlook. (1st ed.). United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP. (1992). World Atlas of desertification. (1st ed.). Edward Arnold Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan, Z., Hook, S., & Hulley, G. (2015). MOD11A2 MODIS/Terra land surface temperature/emissivity 8-day l3 global 1km SIN Grid V006 [Data set]. In NASA EOSDIS Land processes DAAC. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD11A2.006

  • Wells, M. R. (1989). An Assessment of soil capability for on-site effluent disposal, East Carnarvon, Western Australia. Perth: Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

  • Wu, C., Liu, G., Huang, C., Liu, Q., & Guan, X. (2018). Ecological vulnerability assessment based on fuzzy analytical method and analytic hierarchy process in Yellow River Delta. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(5), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Y., Li, W., Wang, Q., Liu, Q., Yang, D., Xing, M., & Yan, S. (2016). Landslide susceptibility assessment using frequency ratio, statistical index and certainty factor models for the Gangu County China. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(2), 84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2112-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Director, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, for his unconditional support and encouragement to carry out this work. Authors acknowledge the directions and support of Deputy Director, EPSA, for his support in conducting this study. Acknowledge is also extended to NASA EOSDIS Land Processes DAAC for MODIS data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, 380015, India

    Manish Parmar & A. S. Rajawat

  2. M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, India

    Zalak Bhawsar, Mit Kotecha & Alpana Shukla

Authors
  1. Manish Parmar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zalak Bhawsar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mit Kotecha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alpana Shukla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. S. Rajawat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manish Parmar.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Parmar, M., Bhawsar, Z., Kotecha, M. et al. Assessment of Land Degradation Vulnerability using Geospatial Technique: A Case Study of Kachchh District of Gujarat, India. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 49, 1661–1675 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-021-01349-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-021-01349-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation