Methodology

The selected six case studies will be characterized in terms of land characteristics and level of soil degradation and desertification by considering all the ground data. The major drivers of desertification will be also identified. This basis information will serve to define a framework (Action A1) that will be used in the following definition of a monitoring model (Action A3), as well as the indicators that will be used for the quantification and mapping of the land degradation and desertification (Action A2). Further, a correlation analysis between desertification indicators and environmental and ecosystem services data from case studies areas will be performed in order to provide a model (ActionA3) for desertification monitoring based on remote sensing indicators, in situ data and ecosystems services assessment. The ecosystem assessment will be applied in case studies areas (Action A4). The effects of in-situ restoration (by comparison of ex ante conditions) will be monitored in mid and long-terms using satellite based indicators and analysis of in situ data. Finally, a protocol for the characterization of desertification processes and for the design, the implementation and the maintenance of NBS will be defined (Action A5), utilising the monitoring framework adopted and the evaluation of the results obtained in case studies.