Assessment of current and future land sensitivity to degradation under climate change in the upstream Ouergha watershed (Morocco) using GIS and AHP method

Mohammed Boutallaka; Talibi Miloud; Mohammed El Mazi; Mostafa Hmamouchi; Khalid El Hairchi

Article Details

Assessment of current and future land sensitivity to degradation under climate change in the upstream Ouergha watershed (Morocco) using GIS and AHP method

Authors:

Mohammed Boutallaka | Talibi Miloud | Mohammed El Mazi | Mostafa Hmamouchi | Khalid El Hairchi

Publisher:

Murat YAKAR

Main Topics:

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Planning

Journal:

International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.46-58

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001339516

pISSN:

2548-0960

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Land degradation is a worldwide phenomenon that negatively affects the topsoil of agricultural land. The Mediterranean region is the hardest hit by this phenomenon, which is set to increase due to climate change. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of land to degradation under climate change, based on the calculation of the Land Degradation Sensitivity Index LDI in the upstream Ouergha catchment in in Northern Morocco Southern Mediterranean, using Geographic Information Systems GIS and the Analytic hierarchy process AHP multi-criteria decision analysis MCDM method. In this study, 4 main criteria climate, vegetation, soil and human environment divided into 15 sub-criteria were used to assess soil sensitivity to degradation. The weight of each criterion was assigned using the AHP method. The degree of soil degradation was classified on a map based on four categories low, moderate, high and critical. About 14.9 of land is not very sensitive to degradation, while 37.2 of land is highly sensitive to degradation. Vegetation and climate were identified as the main drivers of land degradation 37 and 28 respectively. Climate scenarios for model EC-Earth3-Veg CMIP6 indicate a significant drop in precipitation in this region, which accelerates soil degradation. The result represents a planning tool that can help decision-makers to take the necessary measures to ensure sustainable soil management in the face of climate change.

 Land degradation is a worldwide phenomenon that negatively affects the topsoil of agricultural land. The Mediterranean region is the hardest hit by this phenomenon, which is set to increase due to climate change. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of land to degradation under climate change, based on the calculation of the Land Degradation Sensitivity Index LDI in the upstream Ouergha catchment in in Northern Morocco Southern Mediterranean, using Geographic Information Systems GIS and the Analytic hierarchy process AHP multi-criteria decision analysis MCDM method. In this study, 4 main criteria climate, vegetation, soil and human environment divided into 15 sub-criteria were used to assess soil sensitivity to degradation. The weight of each criterion was assigned using the AHP method. The degree of soil degradation was classified on a map based on four categories low, moderate, high and critical. About 14.9 of land is not very sensitive to degradation, while 37.2 of land is highly sensitive to degradation. Vegetation and climate were identified as the main drivers of land degradation 37 and 28 respectively. Climate scenarios for model EC-Earth3-Veg CMIP6 indicate a significant drop in precipitation in this region, which accelerates soil degradation. The result represents a planning tool that can help decision-makers to take the necessary measures to ensure sustainable soil management in the face of climate change.

 Land degradation is a worldwide phenomenon that negatively affects the topsoil of agricultural land. The Mediterranean region is the hardest hit by this phenomenon, which is set to increase due to climate change. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of land to degradation under climate change, based on the calculation of the Land Degradation Sensitivity Index LDI in the upstream Ouergha catchment in in Northern Morocco Southern Mediterranean, using Geographic Information Systems GIS and the Analytic hierarchy process AHP multi-criteria decision analysis MCDM method. In this study, 4 main criteria climate, vegetation, soil and human environment divided into 15 sub-criteria were used to assess soil sensitivity to degradation. The weight of each criterion was assigned using the AHP method. The degree of soil degradation was classified on a map based on four categories low, moderate, high and critical. About 14.9 of land is not very sensitive to degradation, while 37.2 of land is highly sensitive to degradation. Vegetation and climate were identified as the main drivers of land degradation 37 and 28 respectively. Climate scenarios for model EC-Earth3-Veg CMIP6 indicate a significant drop in precipitation in this region, which accelerates soil degradation. The result represents a planning tool that can help decision-makers to take the necessary measures to ensure sustainable soil management in the face of climate change.

 Land degradation is a worldwide phenomenon that negatively affects the topsoil of agricultural land. The Mediterranean region is the hardest hit by this phenomenon, which is set to increase due to climate change. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of land to degradation under climate change, based on the calculation of the Land Degradation Sensitivity Index LDI in the upstream Ouergha catchment in in Northern Morocco Southern Mediterranean, using Geographic Information Systems GIS and the Analytic hierarchy process AHP multi-criteria decision analysis MCDM method. In this study, 4 main criteria climate, vegetation, soil and human environment divided into 15 sub-criteria were used to assess soil sensitivity to degradation. The weight of each criterion was assigned using the AHP method. The degree of soil degradation was classified on a map based on four categories low, moderate, high and critical. About 14.9 of land is not very sensitive to degradation, while 37.2 of land is highly sensitive to degradation. Vegetation and climate were identified as the main drivers of land degradation 37 and 28 respectively. Climate scenarios for model EC-Earth3-Veg CMIP6 indicate a significant drop in precipitation in this region, which accelerates soil degradation. The result represents a planning tool that can help decision-makers to take the necessary measures to ensure sustainable soil management in the face of climate change.

Article Details

Assessment of current and future land sensitivity to degradation under climate change in the upstream Ouergha watershed (Morocco) using GIS and AHP method

Authors:

Mohammed Boutallaka | Talibi Miloud | Mohammed El Mazi | Mostafa Hmamouchi | Khalid El Hairchi

Publisher:

Murat YAKAR

Main Topics:

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Planning

Journal:

International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.46-58

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001339516

pISSN:

2548-0960

Upstream Ouergha basin

Land degradation

Climate change

AHP

SIG

Issues

Article Details

Assessment of current and future land sensitivity to degradation under climate change in the upstream Ouergha watershed (Morocco) using GIS and AHP method

Authors: Mohammed Boutallaka | Talibi Miloud | Mohammed El Mazi | Mostafa Hmamouchi | Khalid El Hairchi

Publisher: Murat YAKAR

Main Topics: Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Planning

Journal: International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.46-58

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 1/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001339516

pISSN: 2548-0960

Upstream Ouergha basin

Land degradation

Climate change

AHP

SIG

Issues

Authors:

Mohammed Boutallaka | Talibi Miloud | Mohammed El Mazi | Mostafa Hmamouchi | Khalid El Hairchi

Publisher:

Murat YAKAR

Main Topics:

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Planning

Journal:

International Journal of Engineering and Geosciences Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.46-58

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

1/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001339516

pISSN:

2548-0960