Evaluation of the Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Erosion in the Tropical Maha Oya River Basin, Sri Lanka

Soil degradation is a serious environmental issue in many regions of the world, and Sri Lanka not an exception. Maha Oya River Basin (MORB) one major river basins tropical Lanka, which suffers from regular soil erosion degradation. The current study was designed to estimate associated with land use changes MORB. Revised Universal Loss Equation (RUSLE) used calculating annual rates, while Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping spatial variations hazard over 30-year period. Thereafter, hotspots MORB were also identified. results this revealed that mean average loss has substantially increased 2.81 t ha−1 yr−1 1989 3.21 2021, increment about 14.23%. An extremely critical erosion-prone locations (average > 60 yr−1) map developed for year 2021. severity classes approximately 4.61% 6.11% area high respectively. Based on results, it found extreme occurs when forests vegetation are converted into agricultural bare land/farmland. analysis further reveals types, steep slope areas, reduced forest/vegetation cover hilly mountain areas contributed risk (16.56 91.01 These erosional should be prioritized according classes, appropriate use/land (LU/LC) management water conservation practices implemented as recommended by restore degraded lands.