Minimizing the Impacts of Desertification in an Arid Region: A Case Study of the West Desert of Iraq

Currently, desertification is a major problem in the western desert of Iraq. The harsh nature, remoteness, and size make it difficult expensive to monitor mitigate desertification. Therefore, this study proposed comprehensive cost-effective method, via integration geographic information systems (GISs) remote sensing (RS) techniques estimate potential risk desertification, identify most vulnerable areas determine appropriate sites for rainwater conservation. Two indices, namely, Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) Land Degradation (LDI), were used cadastral assessment land degradation. findings combined harvesting appropriateness map, maps NDVI LDI changes found that 65% highly suitable lies large change 35% small NDVI, 85% with moderate 12% strong LDI. adoption weighted linear combination (WLC) Boolean methods within GIS environment, analysis can allow hydrologists, decision-makers, planners quickly minimize prioritize determination harvesting.