Page 124 - Çevre Şehir ve İklim Dergisi İngilizce - Özel Sayı

Development of Desertification Maps and Vulnerability Model, Türkiye

The identification of desertification criteria and indicators is of great
importance in the efforts of Türkiye to combat desertification. These studies
should include the identification of areas vulnerable to desertification,
the mapping of risky areas by geographical modelling and the creation
of the software infrastructure of this model. Thus, the areas at the risk of
desertification can be analysed more effectively and preventive measures can
be taken (HIDS-Türkiye Desertification Report, 2015). Desertification is a very
slowly progressing process. Therefore, for the monitoring of this process, it
is essential to determine the criteria and indicators by a thorough analysis,
which plays a facilitating role for monitoring.
It is of great importance to integrate water, socio-economic and management
criteria, which haven’t been used in the Desertification Model and Vulnerability
Map of Türkiye, into the model. A more precise assessment on desertification
is expected, especially if the criteria of water and human impacts are included.
According to Dölarslan and Gül (2024), the criteria and indicators determined
to have an impact on desertification can be evaluated by remote sensing, field
observations, analysis of climate data and geostatistical methods, and the
combination of these methods allows for a more comprehensive assessment
of the desertification process. Consequently, the current technology can play
an important role in facilitating and obtaining more rational outcomes in
monitoring desertification via new methods and techniques.

111
Special Issue / 2024