Land Degradation Indicators and Management Options in the Desert Environment of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The land resources of Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being subjected to various land degradation stresses such as wind erosion, salinization, waterlogging, landfilling, and overgrazing. It is essential to characterize land degradation indicators in the Abu Dhabi Emirate's desert environment and to develop better conservation and management options for these precious resources. To accomplish this characterization, representative samples from degraded soils were analyzed for selected parameters relevant to specific indicators. The study found that, among natural forces of land degradation, wind has a major role in drifting soil from loose surfaces and mainly from dune areas. Nebkha dunes, formed from sediment accumulations around shrubs, have been considered a reliable indicator of rapid dryland degradation. Soil salinity is also becoming a threat to agricultural farms and coastal areas. The results show that about 90% of the agricultural farms in Al Ain area are affected by salinity. Only 11% of farms have salinity below 4 dS/m and, hence, are classified as non‐ saline or normal. Waterlogging has also become a serious problem in many of the agricultural farms. Water erosiao is also evident in uplands. Overgrazing in general has reduced the biodiversity in many areas. Landfilling for urban development and construction purposes is another unique land degradation feature in the Emirate. This study suggests management options for each land degradation type.