Unveiling the Vulnerability: Mapping Desertification and Land Degradation in the Eastern fringes of the Thar Desert

This study focuses on identifying the key drivers of desertification in the Sirsa district of Haryana, India. It takes into account several factors, such as climate, soil, regional hydrology, vegetation condition, land use, available amenities, and economic conditions. Using a hierarchy-based model within a geographic information system framework, these parameters were integrated to create the Desertification-Land Degradation Vulnerability Index (DLVI). The analysis categorizes the results into five vulnerability zones-very high, high, moderate, low, and very low-based on their relative susceptibility to desertification and land degradation. The findings highlight that areas experiencing lower rainfall, higher temperatures, and greater population density with limited social amenities face a higher risk of desertification, particularly in the south-southwest and western parts of Sirsa. To validate the DLVI map, Land Degradation Status Maps are used, employing the Receiver Operating Curve and the Area Under the Curve. This validation process demonstrates an accuracy rate of 61.6%. The model-based approach, which integrates various factors encompassing the geo-environmental and socio-economic aspects, offers valuable insights for the formulation of effective mitigation strategies to combat land degradation and desertification in the future.