Spatial assessment of land degradation sensitive areas in southwestern Romania using modified MEDALUS method

- Land degradation sensitivity areas were investigated in the most heavily degraded region of Romania.
- First study in the country using MEDALUS method to analyze this environmental issue.
- Significant adjustments of MEDALUS framework according to local geographical conditions.
- The proposed Land Degradation Sensitivity Index reveals ~ 70% of the area as critically prone to degradation.
- Over 80% of the local administrative units critically exposed to land deterioration.

Land degradation, a current environmental threat of global proportions, is a complex issue which needs an interdisciplinary approach in order to tackle a given territory's sensitivity to the process. This study aims to spatially analyse the land degradation sensitivity in south-western Romania, a region currently known for this type of environmental deterioration. The analysis is based on mapping and assessing land susceptibility to degradation by means of a multifactorial approach using GIS techniques, such as the well-established MEDALUS (Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use) method. Widely used in the Mediterranean region and other areas worldwide due to advantageous features such as simplicity, flexibility and rapid implementation, the method was used in this study for the analysis of the main indicators identified to be driving forces of land degradation, i.e. Climate Quality Index, Soil Quality Index, Vegetation Quality Index and Management Quality Index. The paper aims to adjust the method in relation to local conditions by considering certain additional variables (sub-indicators) for computing the main indicators, as well as by integrating a new regionally relevant indicator for this environmental issue - Water Quality Index. The final results, assessed with the proposed Land Degradation Sensitivity Index (based on 21 sub-indicators, of which 15 are included in the original MEDALUS method, and 6 are additional), showed that approximately 70% of the total study area is critically sensitive to degradation, mainly due to high agricultural pressures and very low vegetation cover. Surprisingly, in terms of administration, it was found that > 80% of the region's territorial administrative units include sectors which are critically exposed to degradation that exceed half their area. The results can constitute a basic support for regional-level decision makers who can implement the appropriate measures in order to attenuate the restrictive environmental conditions.