Land Sensitivity Analysis of Degradation using MEDALUS model: Case Study of Deliblato Sands, Serbia

Abstract

This paper studies the assessment of sensitivity to land degradation of Deliblato sands (the northern part of Serbia), as a special nature reserve. Sandy soils of Deliblato sands are highly sensitive to degradation (given their fragility), while the system of land use is regulated according to the law, consisting of three zones under protection. Based on the MEDALUS approach and the characteristics of the study area, four main factors were considered for evaluation: soil, climate, vegetation and management. Several indicators affecting the quality of each factor were identifi ed. Each indicator was quantifi ed according to its quality and given a weighting of between 1.0 and 2.0.ArcGIS 9 was utilized to analyze and prepare the layers of quality maps, using the geometric mean to integrate the individual indicator map. In turn, the geometric mean of all four quality indices was used to generate sensitivity of land degradation status map. Results showed that 56.26% of the area is classifi ed as critical; 43.18% as fragile; 0.55% as potentially affected and 0.01% as not affected by degradation. The values of vegetation quality index, expressed as coverage, diversity of vegetation functions and management policy during the protection regime are clearly represented through correlation coeffi cient (0.87 and 0.47).

Drift sand fields as a result of past and current deforestation in the Silesian‐Cracow Upland, Poland

“…The main historic periods of deforestation occurred in the last millennium and, more pronounced, in the Middle Ages (Darby, 1956;Kaplan, Krumhardt, & Zimmermann, 2009). In some places in Europe, however, some traces of the former deforestation have been preserved in the form of drift sands and migrating dunes (Kadović et al, 2016;Koster, 2009;Petrić, 2009). In many cases, these small anthropogenic 'deserts' have existed in the landscape for at least 200-300 years, resulting in unique features.…”

“…For decades, drift sands were treated as wastelands, and when the damage associated with its existence, such as burying roads, ditches, houses, and arable fields became onerous, drift sands were afforested (Castel II, Koster, & Slotboom, 1989). In this way, for example, the coastal dunes on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania/Russia (Povilanskas, Baghdasarian, Arakelyan, Satkūnas, & Taminskas, 2009), migrating dunes in Denmark (Christensen & Johnsen, 2001), inland dunes and drift sands in Serbia (Kadović et al, 2016), Croatia (Petrić, 2009), or in the Netherlands (Riksen et al, 2006) were partly afforested.…”

Identifying Areas Sensitive to Wind Erosion—A Case Study of the AP Vojvodina (Serbia)

“…Saadoud et al [32] and Mezösi et al [33] further investigated air temperature and precipitation. In a particular area of AP Vojvodina (Deliblato sands), Kadović et al [34] pointed to the drought factor in relation to the soil degradation caused by desertification processes. In a study carried out in AP Vojvodina, Savić et al [35] investigated the climate factor using the de Martonne aridity index [36], along with wind velocity data.…”

Afforestation as a factor of physically geographical changing: A case study of Deliblato sand

“…The textural sand class belongs to highly erodable soils, loamy sand with medium erodable soil, while sandy clay belongs to poorly erodable soil (Кадовић и сар., 2014). In addition to the aforementioned factors, eolic erosion process in the territory of the Deliblatska sands is a result of characteristic pedological features (moisture content, chemistry, content of organic components), climatic characteristics, vegetation cover and the influence of anthropogenic factor (Kadović et al, 2016).…”