Assessment of Current Desertification and Presenting a Regional Model for Mahan Basin

In order to assess the current desertification intensity caused by water erosion and to present a desertification regional model, a study was carried out in Mahan basin (Kerman province) in a 90,253 ha area. In this study، based on existing domestic and international methods including FAO-UNEP and ICD, which are most well-known methods at home and in the world, an integrated method was developed. Moreover, it was tried to apply some modifications regarding the current situation of the region. In this case, work units (facieses) were designed based on the geomorphologic studies. Then, proposed model was employed in each unit and subsequently in the whole area. In this study, only the current situation of desertification along with human and environmental aspects was studied. The desertification intensity was classified into four classes: low, average, high and very high. The results showed that 35.57% of the area is threatened by desertification at a moderate rate (class II) and 64.43% of has underwent severe desertification (class III). It also revealed that environmental factors contribute to the desertification process much more effectively than human factors do.