Evaluating the Degradation of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean Environment Using the Water and Land Resources Degradation Index, the Case of Crete Island

Demetrios E Tsesmelis,Panagiotis D Oikonomou,Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos,Stavros G Alexandris,Andreas Tsatsaris,Constantinos Kosmas,Nikolaos A Skondras,Efthimios Zervas,Nikolaos Stathopoulos,Christos A Karavitis,Constantina G Vasilakou

doi:10.3390/atmos13010135

Abstract

Natural resources degradation poses multiple challenges particularly to environmental and economic processes. It is usually difficult to identify the degree of degradation and the critical vulnerability values in the affected systems. Thus, among other tools, indices (composite indicators) may also describe these complex systems or phenomena. In this approach, the Water and Land Resources Degradation Index was applied to the fifth largest Mediterranean island, Crete, for the 1999–2014 period. The Water and Land Resources Degradation Index uses 11 water and soil resources related indicators: Aridity Index, Water Demand, Drought Impacts, Drought Resistance Water Resources Infrastructure, Land Use Intensity, Soil Parent Material, Plant Cover, Rainfall, Slope, and Soil Texture. The aim is to identify the sensitive areas to degradation due to anthropogenic interventions and natural processes, as well as their vulnerability status. The results for Crete Island indicate that prolonged water resources shortages due to low average precipitation values or high water demand (especially in the agricultural sector), may significantly affect Water and Land degradation processes. Hence, Water and Land Resources Degradation Index could serve as an extra tool to assist policymakers to improve their decisions to combat Natural Resources degradation.

Highlights

Numerous challenges are linked to natural resources degradation, such as pollution, water scarcity and stress, overexploitation, extreme hydrological events soil erosion and desertification [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
The results for Crete Island indicate that prolonged water resources shortages due to low average precipitation values or high water demand, may significantly affect Water and Land degradation processes
In terms of Rainfall, high values are in western Crete, and, in terms of Slope, high values presented mainly in the mountainous areas

Summary

Introduction

Numerous challenges are linked to natural resources degradation, such as pollution, water scarcity and stress, overexploitation, extreme hydrological events (droughts and floods) soil erosion and desertification [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The compound effect of anthropogenic interventions and inappropriate and/or uncoordinated management actions to use and/or protect natural resources could cause significant environmental degradation that may even be irreversible in vulnerable ecosystems [9,10]. Contingency planning incorporating an appropriate environmental design may play a major role in vulnerable cases, so as to prevent irreversible conditions and mitigate potential risks [10,11,12,13,14,15]. It has been noted that the majority of the previously reported environmental or natural resources scarcity–induced conflicts have been proved to be processual [18]. It is essential for the policymakers to follow the guidelines, methods and strategies set by the experts for the integrated management of such ecosystems [19,20,21]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion