Optimal parameter selection for qualitative regional erosion risk monitoring: A remote sensing study of SE Ethiopia

Arid and semi-arid regions are susceptible to high levels of erosion. A rapid and cost effective methodological erosion assessment for these regions is required to describe and monitor the processes that control erosion. This study uses remote sensing to describe the contribution of several factors that control erosion. Topography, land use, vegetation density, soil properties and climatic proxies are used to determine erosion risk and to provide basic maps of water and soil conservation practices. A hierarchical decision tree is used to sum and combine the weight of parameters controlling the erosion. The assigned weights of each spatial unit express the susceptibility to erosion. We focus on the catchment basin of the Maleka Wakena reservoir, located in the southeastern portion of the main Ethiopian Rift, where erosion is the major environmental problem.Three different combinations of the dominant controlling factors are yielded in this study. In order to optimize the qualitative erosion risk assessment, each combination is discussed and evaluated depending on the contribution of parameters involved in the erosion process.Maps derived from this qualitative analysis allow the identification and ranking of erosion intensity. These maps enable us to highlight areas in immediate need of conservation strategies in order to control siltation of the SE Ethiopian reservoir and to control further soil degradation.