Estimation of soil erosion dynamics using remote sensing and swat in Kopaonik National Park, Serbia

Soil erosion is a global environmental and economic problem that significantly related to land-use changes. Over the last decades, several mountain areas in Serbia were exposed strong human pressure caused by winter tourism development. The largest ski center situated on Kopaonik Mountain within boundaries of National Park, where conflict between conservation goals rapidly growing. In this study, we calculated sedimentation surface runoff three sub-basins area resort for two years (1984 2018) using Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) analyzed changes occurred during observed period. results show an increase sediment yield 1 3 decrease sub-basin 2. analysis land cover change shows expansion evergreen forests, appearance barren soil urban areas, reduction mixed forests pastures, deciduous forests. These findings indicate studied, dominant processes are development natural revegetation abandoned agricultural land. Application remote sensing techniques SWAT contributes identifying monitoring degradation problems improving management practices.