Evaluation of Current Desertification Status Based on IMDPA with Emphasis on Climate, Wind Erosion, Water, Soil and Vegetation: Case Study of Bordekhun Region of Boushehr

This study used quantifying factors affecting desertification based on the Iranian model of desertification potentialassessment (IMDPA) to assess the current status of desertification in Bordekhun region, Iran. Bordekhun region has anarea of 214.11 km2 and is located near the city of Daiyer in Boushehr province. First, a working unit map of the regionwas selected as the basic map for evaluation of factors and indices of interest. Regional conditions for the five criteria ofclimate, wind erosion, water, soil, and vegetation were calculated as essential for the study of desertification intensity. Thescores for the indices were determined using IMDPA; for each index, a map was prepared employing the calculatedweighting. A qualitative map of the criterion was obtained using the geometric mean of indices related to each criterion. Amap of current desertification potential was then created for the study area by combining the layers produced for eachcriterion, determining their geometrical means, and classifying the resultant map. Analysis of the study criteria showedthat climate was rated high with a quantitative value of 3.15, wind erosion was high with a value of 2.87, water wasmedium with a value of 1.77, soil was high with a value of 2.66, and vegetation was medium with a value of 2.37. Theresults showed that of the total area, 49.12% is classified in the high desertification class, 48.9% is in the moderate classand about 0.99% is not classified. The quantitative value of desertification intensity on the basis of the five criteria for theentire study area was desertification map (DM) = 1.55, which is indicative of the average desertification intensity in theregion. The study area is located such that it has the potential for severe desertification. Climate was found to be thedominant criterion and plays an important role in desertification.