Ecology & Safety, Volume 16, 2022

Abstract: The analysis presented in the article determines erosion-prone areas, using remotely sensed data and ancillary information. Bălțata River Basin, selected as a case study, is exposed to quite a significant extension of erosion due to natural drivers and human pressure. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Normalized Difference Water Index are computed to assess the severity of dangerous surface processes and to determine erosion-prone areas. Ancillary information, such as gully and landslide layers, slope angles, soil types, and land-use types are used as factors of land degradation control. They are also used in the assessment of land degradation distribution within the basin. Our findings show that 1413 ha (8.4% of the basin’s area) are exposed to dangerous exogenous processes. About 70% of eroded and highly exposed areas are located on croplands, while the other 26% are confined to forests because of land consolidation measures. For diminishing the land degradation risk, we recommend the lands highly exposed to erosion be converted to other land-use types less likely to degrade.