Land Degradation Vulnerability Mapping in a Newly-Reclaimed Desert Oasis in a Hyper-Arid Agro-Ecosystem Using AHP and Geospatial Techniques

Modelling land degradation vulnerability (LDV) in the newly-reclaimed desert oases is a key factor for sustainable agricultural production. In present work, trial using remote sensing data, GIS tools, and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was conducted modeling evaluating LDV. The model then applied within 144,566 ha Farafra, an inland hyper-arid Western Desert Oases Egypt. Data collected from climate conditions, geological maps, imageries, field observations, laboratory analyses were subjected to AHP develop six indices. They included geology index (GI), topographic quality (TQI), physical soil (PSQI), chemical (CSQI), wind erosion (WEQI), vegetation (VQI). Weights derived showed that effective drivers of LDV studied area as follows: CSQI (0.30) > PSQI (0.29) VQI (0.17) TQI (0.12) GI (0.07) WEQI (0.05). map indicated nearly 85% total prone moderate risks, 11% high while less than 1% low risks. consistency ratio (CR) all parameters indices 0.1, demonstrating accuracy AHP. results cross-validation demonstrated performance ordinary kriging models (spherical, exponential, Gaussian) suitable reliable predicting mapping properties. Integrated use GIS, would provide methodology oases, by which proper management strategies could be adopted achieve food security.