Considerations on land use and land degradation in Jijia’s upper catchment (Hilişeu county)

Abstract

Land degradation from Hilişeu county is mainly due to various erosion types, as areolar or liniar, but also by amplifying landslides (both with generalized spread). Also, land degradation is influenced by a considerable number of secondary processes whose is represented at punctual level. Soil cover, which is in direct contact with climatic factors, being strongly controlled by them, changes completely in its appearence and characteristics. On flat or slightly inclined surfaces, alteration products remain in place, contributing to the formation of eluvium that covers the sculptural interfluves. When the slope is increasing, alteration products start to move slowly. These processes are known as areolar erosion, depth erosion or wet landslides, processes that have an important role not only in the evolution of landscape, but also in the slope one. Their main reason is the force of gravity, but their mode of expression and their stage of development depends on a complex of natural and anthropogenic factors. The occurance of areas affected by current geomorphological processes on arable surface (occupying a total of 2502.02 ha), is associated with the dysfunctional land use and ineffective style of exploitation. By using GIS techniques applied to topographic maps and orthophotos, subsequently verified by field research, was conducted the diachronic analysis of the current land use, but also the statistical analysis specific to the digital cartographic reliance previous obtained.