GIS-Based Land Suitability Analysis for Sustainable Almond Cultivation in Lebanon

Almonds are one of the major products that are economically competent and compatible with the Mediterranean climate, a key characteristic that distinguishes Lebanon. The present study aims to examine the suitability of land use and land cover on the Lebanese territory for sustainable almond cultivation, based on the FAO land suitability criteria. The research explored the existing areas of almond cultivation and the land possessing the potential for almond cultivation in Lebanon using an analysis model developed on GIS. The evaluation of Land Suitability (LS) based on GIS and Multi-Criteria Evaluation methods (MCE) with Weighted Overlay (WO) was applied, and the almond suitability map was rendered using the seven following parameters: temperature, rainfall, slope, elevation, soil pH, soil texture, and soil depth. These variables were integrated through GIS and were allocated to different weights to each thematic layer, as per its relevance. Ultimately, the almond suitability map was established, comprising four categories: highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and not suitable. The obtained results indicated that almond cultivation areas were around 5500 ha in 2010, while more than 60% of the study area can be planted with almonds in accordance with the almond suitability map. In closing, the targeted decision-makers will potentially deem this study as a valid source of knowledge for planning land use, and a tool to mitigate land degradation.