Development and Application of Water and Land Resources Degradation Index (WLDI)
Demetrios E. Tsesmelis,
Christos A. Karavitis,
Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos,
Andreas Tsatsaris,
Efthimios Zervas,
Constantina G. Vasilakou,
Nikolaos Stathopoulos,
Nikolaos A. Skondras,
Stavros G. Alexandris,
Christos Chalkias,
Constantinos Kosmas
Affiliations
Demetrios E. Tsesmelis
Laboratory of Technology and Policy of Energy and Environment, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335 Patra, Greece
Christos A. Karavitis
Department of Natural Resources Development & Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos
Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou St, 70, 17671 Athens, Greece
Andreas Tsatsaris
Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, University of West Attica, Ag. Spyridonos St, Egaleo, 12243 Athens, Greece
Efthimios Zervas
Laboratory of Technology and Policy of Energy and Environment, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Parodos Aristotelous 18, 26335 Patra, Greece
Constantina G. Vasilakou
Department of Natural Resources Development & Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Stathopoulos
Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, BEYOND Centre of EO Research & Satellite Remote Sensing, 15236 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos A. Skondras
Department of Natural Resources Development & Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Stavros G. Alexandris
Department of Natural Resources Development & Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Christos Chalkias
Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou St, 70, 17671 Athens, Greece
Constantinos Kosmas
Department of Natural Resources Development & Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Natural resources are gradually coming under continuous and increasing pressure due to anthropogenic interventions and climate variabilities. The result of these pressures is reflected in the sustainability of natural resources. Significant scientific efforts during the recent years focus on mitigating the effects of these pressures and on increasing the sustainability of natural resources. Hence, there is a need to develop specific indices and indicators that will reveal the areas having the highest risks. The Water and Land Resources Degradation Index (WLDI) was developed for this purpose. WLDI consists of eleven indicators and its outcome results from the spatiotemporal performance of these indicators. The WLDI is based on the Standardized Drought Vulnerability Index (SDVI) and the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Index (ESAI). The WLDI is applied for the period from October 1983 to September 1996, considering Greece as a study area. The results of the application of this index reveal the areas with the highest risks, especially in the agricultural sector, with less than the needed water quantities due to extensive periods of droughts. This index could be used by scientists, but also by policy makers, to better and more sustainably manage environmental pressures.
