An overview of land degradation, desertification and sustainable land management using GIS and remote sensing applications

Abstract Land degradation (LD) poses a major threat to food security, livelihoods sustainability, ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. The total area of arable land in the world is estimated at 7616 million acres or only 24% of the total area of the land surface, and currently about half of this area is cultivated. The productivity of arable land depends mainly on soil formation and management. Soil contains mineral components, organic matter and microorganism in a natural dynamic balance whose components have been formed in thousands and millions of years (geologic ages). Disruption of this balance due to human pressures and poor land use leads to soil degradation in few years. Scientists…

• SA
  Science and Technology Development Fund