Assessing the degradation of saline wetlands in an arid agricultural region in Spain 1

5 A constellation of saline wetlands in the Spanish Monegros Desert is currently 6 subjected to increasing agricultural pressure. Until now, no systematic study of their 7 degradation status has been performed, and no comprehensive map of these wetlands 8 has been available. Both subjects are addressed for the first time in this study. In 9 addition, we set up a conceptual tool for assessing saline wetlands degradation that 10 improves upon available methods within geomorphological, sedimentological or 11 hydrological frameworks. A wetlands inventory was produced and updated using 12 satellite data, field observations, and orthophotographs, together with the available 13 disperse data about these wetlands’ toponymy and location. The degraded landscape 14 appearance of the surviving wetlands, mainly affected by agricultural intensification 15 ―dumping and farming― has been qualitatively assessed. 16 Systematic descriptors of these saline wetlands ―escarpment, stone dumping, 17 vegetation, and water― were selected and analyzed to identify the status and the 18 increase in degradation of these wetlands between 1988 and 2003. At present, 50% of 19 the wetlands registered in 1988 have disappeared. Of the remaining wetlands, 30% have 20 been invaded by crops and stone debris has increased in 63%. The smoothing of the 21 escarpment appears to be a key degradation symptom. In the absence of field 22 1 Corresponding author. Tel.: + 34 976 716 395; fax: + 34 976 716 335. E-mail address: [email protected]