Regional soil erosion risk mapping in Lebanon

Develops a model for mapping soil erosion risk in a representative area of Lebanon at a scale of 1:100,000 using a spatial database and GIS, deriving three basic maps and two thematic ones: (1) runoff potential obtained from mean annual precipitation, soil-water retention capacity and soil/rock infiltration capacity; (2) landscape sensitivity based on vegetal cover, drainage density and slope; and (3) erodibility of rock and soil and (1) potential sensitivity to erosion obtained from the runoff potential and landscape sensitivity maps and (2) erosion risk based on the potential erosion and erodibility maps, respectively. The authors claim that the model seems to be applicable to other areas of Lebanon, constituting a tool for soil conservation planning and sustainable management.