Application of the Concept of Land Degradation Neutrality for Remote Monitoring of Agricultural Sustainability of Irrigated Areas in Uzbekistan

A scientific approach to the assessment of trends in land changes based on novel concept Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) was applied monitor sustainability irrigated farmlands test areas Uzbekistan (the Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, and Syrdarya regions). The tool “Trends.Earth”, which recommended by UN Convention Combat Desertification developed as a special plugin for Quantum GIS platform, used describe dynamics degradation period 2001–2020. This study demonstrates results monitoring productivity that reflect investments irrigation improvement during last 10–15 years. comparison between measured via Normalized Difference Vegetation Index its average value entire observation is more informative than with initial 5-year period. More details could be noted through application “moving average” calculation method. described demonstrate use sustainable management practices decade led decreasing proportion degraded lands compared figure 2001–2020 (from 25–40% 10–20%). trend confirmed reviewing state statistics indicates success national policies approaches adaptation. However, diverse includes “dry” “humid” extremes, depending climate fluctuations. Despite generally positive identified across regions, high hotspots improved within certain confirm instability ongoing changes.