Efficiency of Land Degradation Neutrality Assessment Indicators of United Nation to Identify Land Degradation in a Semi‐Arid Environment

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this study was to contribute to a deeper understanding of land degradation neutrality (LDN), with a specific focus on Malatya province, located in the semi‐arid region of eastern Türkiye. This case study served as a foundation for establishing a framework to monitor land degradation over time. The research employed three key sub‐indicators—land cover (LC), land productivity (LP), and carbon stocks—following the guidelines of SDG 15.3.1. To assess changes in these sub‐indicators, the SDG 15.3.1 indicator was calculated using 2015 as the baseline year and the preceding period (2000–2015) for comparison. The results indicated that approximately 3.24% of the study area experienced land degradation, primarily attributed to a decline in LP. Of this degradation, about 89.15% was linked to LP loss, while LC (5.91%) and soil organic carbon (SOC) (4.94%) contributed smaller proportions. The study also identified regional variations in land degradation, with intensified degradation occurring in areas undergoing rapid urbanization.