Soil Erosion Risk Assessment due to Land Use/Land Cover Changes (LULCC) in Bulgaria From 1990 to 2015

Abstract

Soil erosion by water jeopardizes land use/cover changes (LULCC) for anthropogenic reasons. It results in enormous and irreversible damage if no action is taken. The Balkan Peninsula has experienced considerable LULCC in recent years; however, the influence of such changes on soil erosion has not been adequately explored. This study sought to explore the influence of LULCC in Bulgaria on soil erosion. Annual soil loss quantity was estimated, and the erosion risk classes were defined using the RUSLE (3D) method based on Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The results of this study indicated that annual soil loss in Bulgaria has been decreasing recently due to various support practices (P-factor) rather than LULCC. However, the recent increase in severe erosion risk class indicates that measures against soil erosion are critical for land degradation.