EMPORAL ASSESSMENT OF LAND DE GRADATION IN AL-SHAMIYA, EESTERN AL-ANBAR, USING THE SPECTRAL ESA INDEX FOR DESERTIFICATION

The study area is classified as an arid environment with high sensitivity to desertification, characterized by low annual rainfall and prolonged periods of high temperatures. These conditions have led to the degradation of ecological balance and disruption of the relationships among ecosystem components, resulting in noticeable deterioration in soil properties particularly structure and fertility—as well as a decline in vegetation cover density and diversity. The area was selected for its geographical significance within Iraq, as it is located between longitudes (33°18'00" – 33°00'00") East and latitudes (44°57'00" – 43°39'00") North, covering a total area of 56,700.63 hectares. The study applied the spectral index to evaluate changes in desertification severity over three time periods (2005, 2015, and 2025), with the aim of analyzing the dynamics of land degradation. The results indicated an increase in the "low-critical" class area by 3.53%, while the "moderate-critical" and "high-critical" classes decreased by 30.32% and 58.3%, respectively. In contrast, the fragile classes (F1, F2, F3) showed an expansion in area. Additionally, the "potential degradation" class (P) recorded a 2.10% increase in 2025 compared to previous years, indicating a continuing intensification of desertification in the region.