Monitoring Vegetation Degradation in the North East of Al-Jafara Plain Based on the Spectral Index (NDVI) of the Landsat Satellite Data for the Years (2008-2014-2020)

Abstract

This study aims to identify and evaluate the degradation and changes of the   vegetation cover in the North East of Sahil Aljfarah.  This study adopted the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The Land satellite images of 2000, 2014 and 2020 years were classified based on NDVI values into four categories represent the density of vegetation cover of the study area. These categories are: non-vegetation, low density vegetation, medium density vegetation and dense vegetation area cover. The analysis of the results revealed that during the period from 2008 to 2020 the areas classified as dense vegetation, medium density vegetation, and low-density vegetation cover were decreased with a rate of (-5.3%), (-36%) and (-27.9%) respectively. This is resulted in an increase in the areas that were classified as non-vegetarian cover with a rate of (51.3%). This vegetation degradation is not a natural phenomenon, but rather it is the result of deforestation and misuse of agricultural lands.