Desertification Monitoring And Assessment In Al-Butana Area Sudan Using Remote Sensing And GIS Techniques

Abstract - Desertification is one of the main problems threatening the agricultural production in the Sudan. The major environmental hazard in this area is sand encroachment from the north direction towards the south directions. The study aimed at monitoring and assessing desertification in Al-Butana area in addition to investigating the potential use of remote sensing and the geographical information system GIS in assessing and monitoring sand encroachment and vegetation degradation as desertification indicators in the semi-arid environment. Satellite imageries of the years 1987 2000 and 2005 were used to measure the extent of sand encroachment and the vegetation deterioration during the above addressed periods. The study showed that there were four mainland cover classes in the study area namely water vegetation sand and clay. In addition there was change in areas covered by the four main land cover classes during the addressed periods. With reference to the year 1987 sand cover was decreased in year 2000 and then increased in 2005. It is worth to mention that sand was encroached from northerly direction to the south part of the study area. Vegetation cover was deteriorated during the addressed periods. The study concluded that most of the study area watched a remarkable change due to sand movement and sand encroachment.