Editors: Hanspeter Liniger, Godert van Lynden, Freddy Nachtergaele, Gudrun Schwilch

Copyright © 2008: CDE/WOCAT, FAO/LADA, ISRIC

DESIRE has used the WOCAT method for mapping land degradation and sustainable land management in each of the study sites. The method was originally developed in the GLASOD project, but has been refined and developed with each successive set of applications (WOCAT, WOCAT/LADA, DESIRE).

For each distinctive land use type, the method evaluates

• what type of land degradation is happening, where and why, and
• what forms of land conservation practices are being used.

The method is designed to be used by an interdisciplinary team of specialists in subjects related to land degradation, land management, land use and soil and water conservation. The team first develops a base map (usually based on land use) then uses a questionnaire to gather the necessary data on land degradation and conservation for each land use system. The method is fully described in the document that can be downloaded at the bottom of this page

Once collected, the data may be entered in the on-line WOCAT mapping database (registration required) from which the various maps are generated.

The area to be mapped is divided into distinctive land use systems. Trends in changes in the area covered by easy land use and also its intensity are determined.

For each land use system, the type, extent, degree, impact on ecosystem services, direct and indirect causes of degradation are determined.

For each land use system, the type, extent, effectiveness, impact on ecosystem services and type of degradation addressed are determined for all land conservation practices used in the area.

More details ... download the full mapping methodology
	English:  Mapping land degradation and SLM (QM) (798.48 kB) Arabic:  Mapping land degradation and SLM (QM)_Arabic (1.07 MB)