Characterization of Land Degradation at the Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve in Argentina with Aviris Data

Land degradation impacts on several critical environmental issues such as food security, diminishing quality and quantity of fresh water resources, preservation of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and global climate change. Land degradation is responsible for soil erosion and can eventually lead to desertification. The International Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) defines desertification as “land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climate variations and human activity”. The resulting loss of soil cover, the loss of genetic diversity, the physical and chemical degradation of soils, and sedimentation of river basins and dams creates major environmental constraints for sustainable development.