Detecting Changes in Land Degradation Trends in the Arab Gulf Countries for the Period 2000 to 2020

This study aims to monitor land degradation changes in the Arab Gulf countries using time series NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) images generated from the MODIS13 dataset from 2000 to 2020. The data, collected on bi-monthly basis, were downloaded from NASA Earth Observation data with an accuracy of 250 meters, covering the whole area of the AGC, for the purpose of analyzing the distribution and spread of NDVI vegetation. A simple linear trend approach was used to examine potential land degradation trends, utilizing the Mann-Kendall statistical confidence limits for 122 selected sites during the study period. Seven classes of land degradation status were identified, representing: degraded land, land with no significant change, and improved land. The results indicated that more than 95% of AGC lands are bare land vulnerable to degradation processes. In contrast, less than 5% of the land showed improvement in land quality reflected by vegetation cover. The findings emphasized an increase in land degradation status over time, as evidenced by a decline in vegetation cover. The main causes of land degradation were climate change, characterized by rainfall decline and more moisture loss resulting from the increase in temperature and evapotranspiration, in addition to poor human activities. Land improvement occurs in some areas of the AGC, mainly in Iraq and the coastal region due to agricultural activity and geographic location.