Spatial and temporal analysis of natural resources degradation in the Likodra River watershed

Soil is an important natural resource whose proper use requires a good knowledge of all endogenous and exogenous factors that cause different types of degradation. Erosion is one of the forms of soil degradation. Erosion processes are characterized by a distinctive complexity and the factors affecting them are dynamics and change in space and time. A complex system degradation requires a multidisciplinary approach to the use of modern methods and techniques. Today, a large number of models are available for the assessment of soil loss through erosion as well as the levels of risk from erosion, today. Most of these are based on the logics of GIS thanks to its ability to sublimate heterogeneous information. In this paper, the analysis of spatial and temporal degradation of natural resources is carried out in the Likodra River watershed. The Likodra River is located in the northwestern part of the Republic of Serbia, and is positioned in the municipality of Krupanj. The main stream in the immediate vicinity of the town of Krupanj formed from four small streams that have expressed torrential character (the Bogoštica with the Kržava and the Čađavica with the Brštica). In May 2014, the urban area and rural parts of the municipality Krupanj were affected by catastrophic flash floods that resulted in the loss of human lives and enormous material damage. Soil degradation in the study area was analyzed using the Erosion Potential Method (EPM). The method is characterized by a high degree of reliability for determining the intensity of erosion, calculation of sediment yield and transport. The advantage of this method compared to other methods its lower complexity in terms of quantity of input parameters, simplicity and the possibility of application in GIS. In addition, the method has the advantage of choice, because it was developed in this area. The method is based on the analytical processing of data on factors affecting erosion. As the erosion spatial phenomenon appears on the map according to the classification on the basis of the calculated analytical erosion coefficient (Z), which depends on the characteristics of the soil, vegetation cover, relief and visible degree of erosion. By applying the Erosion Potential Method (EPM) an erosion map has been developed, showing the spatial distribution of erosion processes in the catchment area of the Likodra River watershed. The erosion map provides an insight into the state of erosion processes of different intensity and character. For the study basin, all its visible manifestations are manifested in the medium coefficient of erosion Zsr = 0.204. The current state of erosion was analyzed in comparison with the situation in the original 1983 erosion map of FR Serbia.