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Monitoring Desertification Using a Small Set of Biophysical Indicators in the Brazilian Semiarid Region

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  • Aldrin Martin Perez-Marin

    (Department of Soil and Rural Engineering, Universidad Federal da Paraíba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil
    Department of Desertification and Agroecology, Instituto Nacional do Semiárido, Campina Grande 58434-700, PB, Brazil)

  • Jhony Vendruscolo

    (Rolim de Moura University Campus, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rolim de Moura 76940-000, RO, Brazil)

  • Jhonatan Rafael Zárate-Salazar

    (Department of Soil and Rural Engineering, Universidad Federal da Paraíba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil)

  • Heithor Alexandre De Araújo Queiroz

    (Technology Division, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano, Guanambi 46430-000, BA, Brazil)

  • Daniel Lima Magalhães

    (Department of Desertification and Agroecology, Instituto Nacional do Semiárido, Campina Grande 58434-700, PB, Brazil)

  • Rômulo S. C. Menezes

    (Department of Nuclear Energy, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil)

  • Izaias Médice Fernandes

    (Rolim de Moura University Campus, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rolim de Moura 76940-000, RO, Brazil)

Abstract

Desertification is defined as land degradation in arid, semiarid, and dry sub-humid regions, and it is caused primarily by human activities and climate change. The semiarid region of Northeast (NE) Brazil is a very large, populous region, and thus, it is hard to monitor the dynamics of its desertified areas; therefore, the present study aimed to develop a minimum set of biophysical indicators to qualify and monitor desertification in this region. This approach included sampling a pair of preserved forested areas and nearby degraded, non-forested areas which had no vegetation growth in the previous years. The study was developed in four stages: (a) pilot site selection; (b) quantification and analysis of soil and vegetation biophysical indicators; (c) biophysical indicator selection; and (d) elaboration of the minimum set of biophysical indicators and desertification levels. Of the analyzed 24 biophysical indicators, 11 were retained and subjected to factor analysis by its principal components. This yielded the minimum set of indicators used to estimate the desertification levels of the pilot sites, which consisted of four soil characteristics: Total Organic Carbon (TOC), cation exchange capacity, clay content, and magnesium content. Regressions were conducted using the SQI, and these indicators showed that the TOC had the highest coefficient of determination. In an exploratory analysis, high SQI (low desertification) showed a positive correlation with the normalized difference vegetation index (R = 0.70) and Aridity Index (R = 0.97). This methodological approach could form the basis of a dynamic monitoring system that is capable of supplying objective, quantitative, and easy to obtain information to decision-makers in NE Brazil and other dry ecosystems around the globe.

Suggested Citation

  • Aldrin Martin Perez-Marin & Jhony Vendruscolo & Jhonatan Rafael Zárate-Salazar & Heithor Alexandre De Araújo Queiroz & Daniel Lima Magalhães & Rômulo S. C. Menezes & Izaias Médice Fernandes, 2022. "Monitoring Desertification Using a Small Set of Biophysical Indicators in the Brazilian Semiarid Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9735-:d:882696
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fernandes, Milton Marques & Fernandes, Márcia Rodrigues de Moura & Garcia, Junior Ruiz & Matricardi, Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli & de Almeida, André Quintão & Pinto, Alexandre Siqueira & Menezes, Rômulo, 2020. "Assessment of land use and land cover changes and valuation of carbon stocks in the Sergipe semiarid region, Brazil: 1992–2030," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. Atanu Mukherjee & Rattan Lal, 2014. "Comparison of Soil Quality Index Using Three Methods," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
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    1. Rita Marcia da Silva Pinto Vieira & Javier Tomasella & Ana Paula Martins do Amaral Cunha & Alexandre Augusto Barbosa & João Pompeu & Yara Ferreira & Fabrícia Cristina Santos & Lincoln Muniz Alves & Je, 2023. "Socio-Environmental Vulnerability to Drought Conditions and Land Degradation: An Assessment in Two Northeastern Brazilian River Basins," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-15, May.

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