Desertification Evaluation Using IMDPA Model (Case Study: Taraz Nahid, Saveh, Iran)
Authors
Abstract
Several studies have been performed to evaluate the desertification in Iran and
other countries which led to present national and regional models. One of them is IMDPA
model. This model was used as a case study in Taraz Nahid, Saveh, Iran. In this study, five
factors including climate, soil, vegetation, irrigation, and socioeconomic ones were
evaluated. According to the region conditions for each criterion, several indices were
considered. Based on the selected indices for each criterion, the qualitative maps were
developed from geometric mean of indices for each criterion and finally, the desertification
intensity map was prepared from the geometric mean. The final desertification map shows
the balanced (moderate) and intense (severe) classes of desertification process in the
region. According to the performed evaluations, the soil texture index with the average
value of 3.75 (very severe class) and vegetation conditions with the average value of 2.9
were more effective indices in the region desertification. Also, the desertification
quantitative intensity value (DM=2.31) was calculated for the entire study region that
showed the moderate class for this region.
