Monitoring Desertification Using a Small Set of Biophysical Indicators in the Brazilian Semiarid Region

Desertification is defined as land degradation in arid, semiarid, and dry sub-humid regions, it caused primarily by human activities climate change. The semiarid region of Northeast (NE) Brazil a very large, populous region, thus, hard to monitor the dynamics its desertified areas; therefore, present study aimed develop minimum set biophysical indicators qualify desertification this region. This approach included sampling pair preserved forested areas nearby degraded, non-forested which had no vegetation growth previous years. was developed four stages: (a) pilot site selection; (b) quantification analysis soil indicators; (c) indicator (d) elaboration levels. Of analyzed 24 indicators, 11 were retained subjected factor principal components. yielded used estimate levels sites, consisted characteristics: Total Organic Carbon (TOC), cation exchange capacity, clay content, magnesium content. Regressions conducted using SQI, these showed that TOC highest coefficient determination. In an exploratory analysis, high SQI (low desertification) positive correlation with normalized difference index (R = 0.70) Aridity Index 0.97). methodological could form basis dynamic monitoring system capable supplying objective, quantitative, easy obtain information decision-makers NE other ecosystems around globe.