NDVI-Based Assessment of Land Degradation Trends in Balochistan, Pakistan, and Analysis of the Drivers

Land degradation destroys human habitats, and vegetation is a marker reflecting land degradation. In this article, the Balochistan Province of Pakistan, which has fragile ecological environment, was selected as typical case to analyze its over 21 years. Relevant studies that used NDVI remote sensing data monitor already existed. Based on product MODIS, study obtained spatio-temporal trends normalized difference index (NDVI) changes from 2000 2020 using sen+ Mann–Kendall (MK) test Hurst analyzed driving factors restoration by employing multiple stepwise regression method. The residual analysis method an effective tool for distinguishing between anthropogenic climatic impacts, given not all regions have significant correlation rainfall. main drivers were derived based Geodetector stripped explore influence NDVI. results show following: (1) dominated restoration. mainly climate well both factors, factors. (2) Geodetector-based found high correlations TMP, MAP, AET PET, complementing most previous analyses considered only precipitation temperature. Balochistan, AET, PET MAP dominant affecting spatial distribution NDVI; TMP with interactive in (3) article quantifies impact Human activities positively influenced 91.02% area negatively it 8.98% area. (4) overall trend stable, stronger improvement than degradation, showed strong persistence. above findings enrich our understanding impacts arid or semi-arid provide scientific basis engineering achieve conservation quality development Pakistan.