An overview of land degradation, desertification and sustainable land management using GIS and remote sensing applications

Abstract Land degradation (LD) poses a major threat to food security, livelihoods sustainability, ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. The total area of arable land in the world is estimated at 7616 million acres or only 24% of the total area of the land surface, and currently about half of this area is cultivated. The productivity of arable land depends mainly on soil formation and management. Soil contains mineral components, organic matter and microorganism in a natural dynamic balance whose components have been formed in thousands and millions of years (geologic ages). Disruption of this balance due to human pressures and poor land use leads to soil degradation in few years. Scientists differed in setting a precise definition of the concept and dimensions of land degradation, but many agreed on the general concept of land degradation: ‘quantitative or qualitative change in the properties of soil that reduces the land's potential for production’ and the more comprehensive definition that land degradation is Change in the characteristics of the Earth. Leading to the creation of more desert or drier conditions, due to the decline or deterioration of the load of biological energy for a period of time does not have to be continuous, but temporary. Additionally, organic farming might be a substitute to prevent the deterioration of our soil. The emphasis of the current review is on how land degradation affects agriculture and the environment, as well as how we can manage our lands to prevent further degradation. Therefore, this review will focus in explain the land degradation definition and concept, and presenting two case studies from Egypt and India.