Land-use Evaluation of Arid Lands for Wildlife Habitats and Recreational Camping Using Soil Information and GIS PDF

Keywords

Arid environment, land suitability, mapping, vegetation, soil

Abstract

Management of lands for a variety of uses requires knowledge of sensitive areas so that effective land use strategies can be designed. Soil surveys provide baseline information that can be used for land use evaluation In this study, the Kuwait soil information system, which is based on a field survey at reconnaissance level (1:100.000 scale), was used to generate suitability information and maps for wildlife habitats and recreational camping areas. Land use suitability for wildlife habitat and recreational camping determined by interpreting soil property information from the soil survey database against criteria established for Kuwait's conditions. Using a geographic information system, maps were developed, based on interpretation of the soil survey map unit component soils, and used to show the suitable areas was areas. Results showed that 87% of the land was classified as "well suited" and "suited" for wildlife habitats and that 56% of the land had "severe limitations" for recreational camping Soil information, when expressed using suitability criteria, can assist with land use evaluation and provides valuable information for screening areas.