Sand Dune Area Research Articles

The estimation of suitable habitat for coastal plants and the risk of blown sand in coastal sand dune area

The estimation of suitable habitat for coastal plants and the risk of blown sand in coastal sand dune area

Dependence of the population state of the midday gerbil (<i>meriones meridianus</i>, rodentia, gerbillidae) on the provision of forage resources in different seasons of the year in the north-western caspian

In the conditions of the North-Western Caspian Sea, the state of the midday sand lance population is determined by the dynamics of food resources. An important component of the environment that determines the condition of the midday gerbil is bush thickets, which serve as a good shelter for animals. It has been established that on a sand dune, where a higher density of shrubs is noted, compared to open areas of the deserted steppe, the productivity of vegetation increases and the species composition of plants changes. The relationship between gerbil population density and vegetation productivity was shown (R = 0.74, P 0.05). In addition, the relationship between the number of gerbils and the productivity of bluegrass bulbs (Poa bulbosa) is shown, which fluctuated during the years of research in the sand dune area from 3.7 to 5.5 c/ha of dry weight, and in the desert steppe area from 2.3 to 3.8 c/ha. In accordance with the nature of the provision of food resources, changes in the number of midday gerbils were noted in different seasons of the year from 4 to 24 individuals/ha on sand dunes and from 2 to 14 individuals/ha in the desert steppe.

Patterns of island fox habitat use in sand dune habitat on San Clemente Island

On San Clemente Island (SCI), the island fox subspecies Urocyon littoralis clementae has been monitored annually since 1988 to track long‐term population trends. Annual density estimates in most habitat types across the island range from 2 to 13 foxes/km2, yet unusually high estimates have repeatedly approached 50 foxes/km2 in a unique sand dune habitat area. Although sand dune habitat is restricted to one small area on the island, these estimates suggest sand dune habitat supports one of the highest population densities of any fox species in the world, and it may support > 5% of the SCI fox population. This finding prompted our investigation to determine if SCI foxes captured in the sand dunes habitat area maintained home ranges within this habitat type. Between January and July 2018, we used global positioning system (GPS) collars to track the movements of 12 island foxes captured in the sand dune habitat area. Contrary to our initial predictions, we found that island foxes captured in the sand dune habitat area do maintain home ranges and core areas centralized in sand dune habitat. All 12 island fox home ranges estimated contained > 50% sand dune habitat in either their 50% or 95% fixed kernel density estimate (KDE) home range, and island foxes were 3.14 times more likely to use active sand dune habitat when compared to the second most abundant habitat type, maritime desert scrub (Adjusted β = 3.14, 95% CI = 3.07–3.12). We also found that island foxes in sand dune habitat maintained much smaller home ranges than reported estimates in other habitat types, with an average 95% KDE home range size of 0.42 km2 (95% CI = 0.20–0.63 km2). Although sand dune habitat comprises just 2% of available habitat on SCI, our research highlights the importance of this unique habitat area for island foxes.

Floristic Inventory, Diversity, and Community Structure of the Riparian and Coastal Sand Dune Landscapes in the Lower Padsan River Basin, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Padsan River basin, the largest river system in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, encompasses two vital ecological landscapes: coastal sand dunes and riparian areas. Despite its ecological importance, the floristic diversity of these landscapes still needs to be better understood and documented. A vegetation assessment was conducted to characterize the composition, diversity, and community structure of plants in the lower Padsan River landscapes. Eighteen 10 m x 10 m nested quadrats were established across six sampling stations. The study recorded 82 species of vascular plants from 80 genera and 41 families. Fifty-two percent are introduced species, 48% are native species, and 27% are invasive species. The plant life forms are composed of trees (34 spp.), herbs (17 spp.), vines (13 spp.) and grasses (9 spp.). Fabaceae and poaceae were the most species-rich plant families. Prosopis juliflora (Candaroma) was the most dominant tree species, comprising 29% of the entire population. The lower Padsan River basin landscapes exhibits moderate tree diversity (H’ = 2.7), with Shannon diversity indices ranging from 0.89 to 2.43 across sampling locations. The riparian areas showed higher tree Shannon diversity, richness, and evenness, while the coastal sand dune areas had higher tree dominance but lower Shannon diversity. The plant community structure varies between the two types of ecological landscapes (ANOSIM Global R=0.7, p<0.05). P. juliflora dominates the coastal sand dune, while a mix of the Leucaena-Pithecellobium-Terminalia community characterizes the riparian area. This study provides essential baseline information on the floristic diversity and community structure, serving as a foundation for developing an integrated river management plan and strategies for conserving important ecological landscapes in the downstream section of the Padsan River Basin.

Aeolian sand challenges in desert rail infrastructures, overview of Iran’s experience and advancement

The processes of wind erosion and the movement of dunes have destructive effects on the transportation infrastructure with an emphasis on railway lines. Consequently, the construction and maintenance costs of desert railways will increase under the influence of sand sediment movement. In severe conditions, passing trains can also be affected, compromising their safety and comfort. However, the passage of railway infrastructures through desert areas prone to aeolian sand is inevitable. This research discusses the main challenges encountered by railways in Iran's deserts, including two ultimate and serviceability limit states that affect civil works, track superstructure, rolling stock, and signaling systems. It also examines the mitigating measures implemented in Iran based on the source, transport, or deposition areas of sand dunes. Moreover, the performance of Iran's desert railways has been classified based on wind sand activities. According to the distribution map of Iran's railway network, sand accumulation in the main desert lines has been classified into four levels: very severe, severe, moderate, and low. The research also presents the experience of implementing and monitoring the hump slab track system, which has proven to be a sustainable solution for addressing the dune problem with suitable efficiency over a period of six months.

Dynamics of the aeolian landform at the coastal geosite of Parangtritis sand dune area, Yogyakarta

In 2014, Kelud, an active volcano in East Java, ejected ashes (hereafter termed KA; Kelud ash) that reportedly reached as far as Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). The KA deposits are observable in, among others, the coastal sand dune area in Parangtritis. Due to the active aeolian process, the KA layers can be found at different depths five years after the eruption. Thus, the KA can be used as a marker of the post-2014 aeolian activities at the Parangtritis dune, which was once classified as a degraded land and later recognized as a coastal geosite, ultimately allowing us to calculate the volume and sand transport rate. The research surveys performed at 25 points discovered volcanic ash layers at 1 cm to 26 cm below the surface. At some observed points, the ash deposits were found on the surface and continuously transported. This research observed an area of 60,000 m2 with an average of 8.5 cm thick sand layers lying above the KA layer. Based on the calculation, the total volume of the transported sand at the Parangtritis sand dune from 2014 to 2019 was approximately 5,100 m3. This volume is considerably small owing to various obstacles in the transport zones. Based on the five-year dynamic of the sand dune, this study suggested that restoration needs to be conducted immediately particularly in eliminating vegetation barriers to maintain the sediment balance (erosion-transport-sedimentation) of the coastal sand dune area.

Prediction of the future landuse and land cover changes in the Parangtritis sand dune : a spatio temporal analysis using QGIS MOLUSCE

This study was aimed to analyze the changes and predict the future land use in the Parangtritis Sand Dunes, located in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. Parangtritis Sand Dunes face the threat of damage due to various human factors such as settlements, tourism, agriculture, plantations, etc. The Cellular Automata method, coupled with the Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation (MOLUSCE) plug-in, was employed to assess the dynamics of land cover/land use and make projections for the future. The analysis revealed significant changes in several land cover classes between 2019 and 2021, while others remained relatively stable. From 2019 to 2021, the change in area amounted to 5.6 hectares, while from 2021 to 2031 the change was only slight, amounting to 0.7 hectares. So it can be concluded that the change in the area of sand dunes in the future, namely in 2031, has not changed much, only increased by 0.7 Ha. So that more effort is needed to curb the core zone intended for the preservation of the Parangtritis sand dunes. Further investigation into the underlying causes of these shifts could provide valuable insights for effective land management and conservation efforts.

Contribution of HVSR, MASW, and geotechnical investigations in seismic microzonation for safe urban extension: A case study in Ghabt Admin (Agadir), western Morocco

Ghabt Admin, located in western Morocco, is prone to seismic activity and site effects due to its position within an alluvial basin situated between two faulted mountain belts. The region has experienced several devastating earthquakes, including the 1960 Agadir earthquake that resulted in the loss of 12,000 lives and the destruction of over 75% of the city. Moreover, the area has recently undergone rapid urbanization, necessitating the implementation of seismic studies to make informed decisions regarding land use. This study aims to conduct the first seismic microzonation and site characterization studies by using HVSR, 1D-MASW, and geotechnical investigations. The datasets consist of 80 microtremors, 15 1D-MASW profiles, detailed geological observations, boreholes, and soil/rock identification tests. Due to challenges related to anthropogenic sources and soil heterogeneities, only 31 H/V measurements met the SESAME criteria. The HVSR results indicate the following: (i) the predominant peak frequency (f0) ranges from 1.4 to 15.7 Hz, with lower values (1.4–3 Hz) observed in the Oued Issen alluvial fans and the sand dune area, while moderate to high values (4–15.7 Hz) are found in the lacustrine limestone and Tagragra’s dome. (ii) The amplitude peak frequency (A0) ranges from 2 to 7.7, with higher values observed in the southwestern zone and certain parts of the glacis-fans zone, particularly in the Oued Issen zone. (iii) The seismic vulnerability index (Kg) ranges from 0.28 to 39.5. The Oued Issen area, which is composed of recent unconsolidated deposits and affected by the Oued Issen fault, exhibits high Kg values. Analysis of HVSR curve typology reveals complex geology. The VS30 map shows VS values ranging from 179 m/s to 830 m/s, classifying the study area into soil classes A, B, and C according to Eurocode 8. Furthermore, the 1D-MASW results are compatible with the HVSR results and the distribution of the geological units.

A new aeolian activity proxy based on analysis of the grain size characteristics of surface soils across the Tengger Desert, northwest China, and its application to a Quaternary aeolian succession

The arid regions of northwestern China are dominated by extensive areas of mobile sand dunes. These features cause environmental problems and exert global climatic impacts; however, due to the lack of systematically-applied indicators of aeolian activity, direct evidence of past changes in aeolian activity is unreliable, especially for aeolian sand source regions. In this paper, we analyze the end-member (EM) distributions of various types of surface soil across the Tengger Desert in northwestern China, and devise a sensitive proxy for aeolian activity using a spatio-temporal substitution approach. This proxy is then used to evaluate a Quaternary aeolian succession and to understand the response of aeolian activity to regional climate change. Our results suggest that gradual increases in the coarse-grained EM components 3–5 reflect enhanced dune mobility and reduced vegetation coverage, which are a direct function of the intensity of regional aeolian activity. In the aeolian section, coarse- and medium-grained sand layers resemble modern semi-mobile and mobile dunes, whereas fine-grained sand layers are analogous to vegetated fixed/semi-fixed or semi-mobile dunes. Combining this record with independent multi-proxy evidence from the same section leads us to conclude that strong aeolian activity coincided with a dry climate, sparse vegetation cover, and strong surface winds during the Last Glacial Maximum, and that these conditions gradually attenuated at the beginning of the Last Deglacial. These inferences are in accord with independent paleoclimate records from this region, confirming that the intensity of aeolian activity in the southeastern Tengger Desert is closely associated with large-scale climate change. Our findings show that our EM proxy can be used to infer the intensity of aeolian activity and to reliably reconstruct the evolution of deserts in northwestern China.

Root biomechanical features and wind erosion resistance of three native leguminous psammophytes for coastal dune restoration

Taiwan is a subtropical mountainous island with fragile geological conditions and about 1566 km of coastline. Monsoon usually bring severe coastal erosion and dust storms. Canavalia lineata, Canavalia rosea and Vigna marina, three native pioneer leguminous psammophytes occurring on coastal sand dune areas, play important roles in reducing wind erosion in coastal regions. Nonetheless, its root biomechanical properties and wind erosion resistance are still unexplored. In this study, the root biomechanical properties of these plants were inspected using uprooting and tensile tests. Wind erosion resistance was estimated by wind tunnel tests. Our results showed that the growth charactersitics of C. lineata are superior than those of C. rosea and V. marina. Furthermore, the root pullout force of C. lineata (0.36 ± 0.04 kN) and C. rosea (0.36 ± 0.05 kN) are remarkably higher than that of V. marina (0.22 ± 0.02 kN). Root tensile strength of C. rosea (291.24 ± 11.89 MPa) plants is significantly greater than those of C. lineata (231.33 ± 9.47 MPa) and V. marina (95.78 ± 8.83 MPa) plants. Moreover, wind tunnel tests show that C. lineata has superior wind erosion resistance than C. rosea and V. marina. Altogether, these results clearly demonstrate that the priority species order for coastal dune restoration is: C. lineata > C. rosea > V. marina. These results contribute important strategy for ecological engineering of coastal management in sand dune areas.

초당동 유적을 통해 본 중부동해안지역 신석기시대 중기에 대한 검토

The remains of the middle Neolithic age in the central east coast area had no clear results other than those of Jigyeong-ri, Yangyang. With the excavation of Chodang-dong site, a detailed review of the middle Neolithic age became possible. In Chodang-dong Neolithic site, comb-patterned pottery, stone tools, dwellings, and Open-Air Hearths were investigated.
 The study of the Neolithic age in the central east coast area focused on the chronology and the background of the establishment of the Middle Age culture through comb-patterned pottery. The middle Neolithic age of the central east coast area was established under the influence of comb-patterned pottery in the Midwest area. Later, it was thought that comb-patterned pottery, which had the traditional of the southern area was excavated.
 The analysis was focused on the relics excavated from the Neolithic site in Chodang-dong. As a result, the lip pattern of the comb-patterned pottery is divided into a single thread and a zip line pattern. Most of the Neolithic site in Chodang-dong are the latter. Some of the site of Gangneung are the former. Comb-patterned pottery engraved with short horizontal and slanted gates have been excavated from the remains of Open-Air Hearths. The Open-Air Hearths of Chodangdong site was intensively used in the late Neolithic age rather than the middle.
 Chodang-dong Neolithic site was a large village with many dwellings and Open-Air Hearths in the middle of the Neolithic Age. In the middle Neolithic age, Chodang-dong site were the residential area south of Gyeongpo Lake. Afterwards, in the late Neolithic age, an Open-Air Hearths was installed throughout the first sand dune area. However, he lived in Chodang-dong site and did not use Open-Air Hearths.

Economic effects of environmental change on the rural areas

Agriculture is one of the economic sectors most directly affected by climate change. Agriculture must adapt to changed environmental and biological conditions in order to be effective. In extreme cases, certain areas must be completely set aside due to soil erosion or desertification. At the same time, agricultural activity is not only a victim of global climate change, but also one of the causes of it. In our work, we examine climate change in Hungary, projecting it into agriculture where extreme weather conditions are most noticeable. As a testing area, we chose the Hungarian Sand Dunes area because of the diversified agricultural production here and because this part of the country is most affected by climate change. The Homokhátság occupies a significant part of Hungary and has always been a major agricultural production center. The homestead farms established here define the image of the Hungarian Great Plain. Interviews with local farmers provide an overview of the local impacts of climate change and measures to mitigate the expected and future damages in the farms surveyed. In our research, we shed light on the causes, extent and consequences of climate change, especially in the areas of agriculture. We present climate impacts and measures to reduce them through secondary and primary research.

Local environmental conditions influence species replacement in Great Lakes interdunal wetland macroinvertebrate communities

Abstract Understanding the role of environmental filtering and spatial processes along environmental gradients in assembling and maintaining aquatic communities in rare habitats is crucial for land management and biological conservation. We investigated the relative roles of environmental and spatial factors influencing beta (β) diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in 36 interdunal wetlands from five freshwater sand dune areas across two ecoregions spanning the latitudinal gradient of Lake Michigan. We hypothesised that aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity and composition would vary along the coastline because of an underlying environmental gradient. We predicted high species replacement correlated with environmental (local and regional) conditions and increasing species diversity with decreasing latitude. We calculated sample completeness, obtained diversity estimates based on Hill numbers and used abundance‐based β partitioning and multivariate analysis to examine β diversity, and its replacement and nestedness components in relation to local and regional predictors. Despite a short latitudinal gradient, we detected a significant increase in species richness with decreasing latitude, underpinned by a strong temperature and precipitation gradient. Species replacement (balanced variation in abundance) was high at all spatial scales (wetland, dune area, ecoregion and coastline), and correlated with local and regional environmental variables. Community dissimilarity showed no marked increase with spatial extent, which suggests a system where local‐scale environmental filtering prevents dispersal driven homogenisation. Both local and bioclimatic factors were correlated with aquatic macroinvertebrate dissimilarity, but local factors played a larger role. This study simultaneously examined the response of alpha and β diversity to geographical and environmental variables. Our results indicate that macroinvertebrates respond to abiotic factors by tracking suitable environmental conditions among locally variable interdunal wetlands. Thus, high dispersal along the coastline conveys resiliency to a hydrologically dynamic wetland system, which allows aquatic macroinvertebrates to contribute an integral portion of sand dune biodiversity within the Laurentian Great Lakes region. The high species turnover found suggests that conservation strategies should consider coastline connectivity among dune areas to maintain freshwater biodiversity.

Forgotten excavations in Sinai: Al-Qantarah Necropolis (season 1981)

The current report related to the archeological work at Al-Qantarah Sharq necropolis in 1981 (17 May – 2 June), this funerary complex is located about 650 m to the east of Suez Canal, in a pure sand dune area. Due to the expansion of residential buildings of the city, SCA team started the archaeological investigations for a better understanding of the limits of the Greco-Roman necropolis. Since 1910, the archeological investigation started at different parts of the village. Season 1981 revealed different types of burials; these included double-vessel coffins, simple limestone grave, mud-brick lined grave, limestone anthropoid sarcophagi and a limestone tomb with vaulted ceiling and mud-brick shaft. The burials were very poor in conditions and funerary artifacts.

Spatial Suitability Analysis for Identification of Best Sites for Collecting Photovoltaic Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using Boolean Model

Solar energy is one of the renewable energy sources that can be tapped and is an inexhaustible source. The aim of study to identify suitable locations for collecting photovoltaic energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia base on Boolean models. The study used several data sources from official authorities and open-source websites which divided to three criteria: topographic, climatic, and economic. The data are Photovoltaic energy, temperature, slope, sand dune locations, distance from major cities, road network, and power network. The results showed that the amount of Photovoltaic energy is suitable in Saudi Arabia, but the levels of the amount are difference from area to another. The topographical criteria had a negative impact, especially with sand dune areas and slope degree on the western and middle regions of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the economic factor had a negative impact on the northern and southern regions of Saudi Arabia, because the density of the road network and the power network. In addition, the result showed the total area suitable of Photovoltaic energy about (285,560 km²), and the best areas are: Hail, Makkah, Madinah, Al Jawf, Tabuk, Riyadh, Qassim and Asir regions, with a total area around (202,534 km²). Finally, the study found that the northern regions of Saudi Arabia are considered promising areas in generating solar energy, but needs to increase the road network and power lines network.

Changes in the Invasion Rate of Prosopis juliflora and Its Impact on Depletion of Groundwater in the Northern Part of the United Arab Emirates.

Prosopis species were introduced to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) region for desert greening. However, the species now pose a great threat to the native plant diversity. This study used high-resolution satellite imagery (1990–2019) to understand the history and current distribution of Prosopis species and their impact on fresh groundwater. The results show that the Prosopis invasion in the study area reached its maximum expansion rate in 2019 and covered an area of about 16 km2 compared to 0.2 km2 in 1990. The areas near Sharjah Airport, Umm Fannan, and Al Talla, located at a lower elevation of the sand dune area, are heavily invaded. Prosopis groundwater requirement derived using evapotranspiration shows that groundwater consumption has changed drastically after 2010 and consumed about 22.22 million m3 of groundwater in 2019, which is about a 7372% increase in groundwater consumption from the year 1990 to 2019. The results can be useful for setting up a management plan for the sustainable use of this species in the UAE region in particular and other similar countries in the arid land regions that are suffering from freshwater depletion because of Prosopis invasion.

Diversity of Coastal Sand Dune (CSD) Vegetation along the Coast of Maharashtra, India

The sand dunes vegetation in coastal regions of Maharashtra is important ecosystems because of their small size, the different species found in habitat, and the beautiful landscapes they create. The current study investigated the vegetative status of sand dunes on Sindhudurg and Raigad district, west coast of Maharashtra. A survey of sand dune flora along coastal sand dune areas was done from October to December 2020 and 55 species belonging to 46 genera and 26 families are identified from study sites. The families like Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Malvaceae are dominant in study areas which show halophytic and xerophytic nature. The heavy pressure of tourism and development in coastal area shows negative effects on sand dune vegetation are seen during study.

Screening of antibacterial activities of Bacillus spp. isolated from the Parangkusumo coastal sand dunes, Indonesia

Abstract Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria because of poor understanding of the issue and the misuse of antibiotics has become global health concern. Therefore, the discovery of novel antibacterial drugs is urgently needed. New antibacterial compounds may be found in the Bacillus species, which are abundant in sand dune ecosystems. Herein, we examined samples from the Parangkusumo coastal sand dunes in Indonesia. Methods: Samples were collected from three areas in the sand dunes (the area closest to the sea, the core area of sand dunes, and the area farthest from the sea). The samples were inoculated on Luria Bertani agar. Morphological and molecular identification was performed on the basis of 16S rRNA. The samples’ antimicrobial activity was evaluated with the disc diffusion method and compared with that of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. Results: Five species of Bacillus were successfully isolated from the Parangkusumo coastal sand dunes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of Bacillus aryabhattai in Indonesia. All samples showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria. B. velezensis and B. subtilis showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, whereas B. aryabhattai and B. megaterium showed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, and B. spizizenii showed antibacterial activity toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: Five Bacillus species were successfully isolated from the Parangkusumo coastal sand dunes, Indonesia, and all samples showed antimicrobial activity toward opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. The crude antimicrobial compounds from B. megaterium, B. aryabhattai, B. subtilis, and B. spizizenii showed the highest growth-inhibition activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. cereus, and S. aureus, respectively.

Late Pleistocene and Holocene aeolian activity in the Deliblato Sands, Serbia

AbstractThe Deliblato Sands is among the largest uniform dune fields of Europe, with a very pronounced topography reflecting extensive past aeolian events. Although lacking numerical age data, previous researchers have hypothesized various periods of dune formation. Our research goals were to map the main morphological units of the Deliblato Sands, and to provide the first optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages for the major dune types. Mapping was carried out using digital elevation models, satellite images, and GPS profiles. Dune development was investigated using OSL. Several tests were performed concerning thermal treatment, signal characteristics, dose recovery, and dose distributions to assess the suitability of sediments for luminescence dating. Based on our results, two dune generations could be identified that differed in morphology and age. Older dune forms are primarily low sand-supply, hairpin-like parabolic dunes that developed from the last glacial maximum until the end of the early Holocene, then became stabilized. Younger, superimposed parabolic dunes record an intensive aeolian signal from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The history of the Deliblato Sands fits with those from other European sand dune areas, and provides further details to understand paleoenvironmental changes in the region.

MONITORING DESERTIFICATION IN SOME REGIONS OF IRAQ USING GIS TECHNIQUES

Desertification is one of the phenomena that threatening the environmental, economic, and social systems. This study aims to evaluate and monitor desertification in the central parts of Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers through the use of remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems. The Normalized difference vegetation index NDVI and the crust index CI were used, which were applied to two of the Landsat ETM + and OLI satellite imagery during the years 1990 and 2019. The research results showed that the total area of ​​the vegetation cover was 2620 km2 in 1990, while there was a marked decrease in the area Vegetation cover 764 km2 in 2019, accounting for 34.8% (medium desertification) and 10.2% (high desertification), respectively. Also, the results showed that sand dunes occupied an area of ​​767 km2 in 1990, while the area of ​​sand dunes increased to 1723 km2 in 2019, with a rate of 10.2%) medium desertification (and 22.9% (severe desertification), respectively. It was noted that the overall rate of decrease in vegetation cover was 21.33 km2year-1 while the overall rate of increase in ground erosion in the area is 10.99 km2year-1.