SEDIMED · EFFECTS OF LAND COVER CHANGE AND LAND ABANDONMENT ON SEDIMENT YIELD IN SEMIARID MEDITERRANEAN CATCHMENTS USING REMOTE SENSING, GIS AND FIELD TECHNIQUES

The focus of this research project is to quantify the effect of historical land use/-cover change onerosion by combining conventional geomorphic methods, remote sensing and innovative geochemicaltechniques. The Western Mediterranean region is the core region of this project, as it was identified by theUnited Nations as one of the regions mostly affected by desertification in Europe. Its main objective is toprovide quantitative data on the historical evolution of erosion processes in relation to past and present landuse/-cover change in the Western Mediterranean region. Data collected in the project on the anthropogenicacceleration/deceleration of erosion will contribute to a better understanding of desertification in the WesternMediterranean region. Furthermore, the expertise that will be developed in this research project will allowplacing present land degradation processes in their historical context.