Water soil erosion risk assessment under different conditions in Calabria (Southern Italy)

The study presents some assessments of water soil erosion in Calabria (Southern Italy) that contribute to improving measures to reduce and mitigate the effects of the factors affecting land degradation processes. In fact, in the Mediterranean area increasing climate variability - more frequent droughts and floods than in the past - and the ever stronger human influence on the territory lead to land degradation phenomena and aggravate the conditions of stress on land resources. In particular, during the last few decennia in some areas of Southern Italy, water soil erosion has been responsible for desertification processes. Wide areas are, in fact, prone to desertification and characterised by on the one hand i) semi-arid climate, ii) seasonal droughts and iii) heavy rainfall events and, in the other, by iv) wildfires that decrease vegetation coverage, v) agricultural crisis with the consequent neglect of farms and vi) land degradation.