Relationship of the structure and pattern of pastoral landscapes with desertification risk

Desertification is a major environmental issue, with profound social and economic implications. It is consider being a part of the evolutionary forces of the planet, which destroys productive areas and threatens traditional landscapes. Mountainous Greece reserves pastoral (traditional) landscapes with steep elevation that are being threatened with collapse when are overgrazed. Research dealing with the study of landscape in relation to desertification threats is rare and for that reason it came as an objective of the study. So the aim of the present study was to investigate the possible relationship between the landscape structure and pattern with desertification risk. Five local communities (Kolchiko, Lofiskos Kryoneri, Exalofos, Ossa) of Lagadas county were chosen as study area, which constitute a typical pastoral landscape of Central Macedonia. Landscape pattern were evaluated with landscape indices (fragmentation, edge, shape, interspersion and diversity metrics). The risk of desertification was evaluated by a simplified version of ESAI (Environmentally Sensitive Area’s Index). According to ESAI, four different types of areas concerning desertification were identified: the critical, the fragile, the potential and the non-threatened. Remote sensing and GIS software (ERDAS Imagine 9.1, FRAGSTATS 3.3 and ArcView 9.3) was used for data processing. The results showed that there is possible correlation between desertification risk and landscape indices measuring fragmentation, Edge Density, Diversity and Interspersion. It is concluded that the previous landscape indices in correlation with ESAI can potentially be used as indicators of desertification risk.