Malatya ilinde ICONA yöntemi ile CBS ve uzaktan algılama tabanlı erozyon risk analizi.

Erosion is the process of soil degradation caused by water, wind, and human activities, leading to reduced agricultural productivity and significant environmental and economic challenges. In this study, the ICONA method was employed to assess erosion risk in the province of Malatya. ICONA is an effective approach for creating risk maps, taking into account parameters such as slope, lithology, land use, and vegetation density. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques, it was determined that 20.17% of Malatya is at low erosion risk, 64.99% at moderate risk, and 14.19% at very high risk. Areas with steep slopes were found to exhibit very high erosion risks. The regions with the highest erosion risk are predominantly located in the northern and southern parts of Malatya on sloped terrains. Conversely, areas with no slope but high erodibility due to lithological properties were identified as having moderate erosion risk. The findings indicate that erosion risk reaches critical levels in the northern regions, characterized by steep slopes and insufficient vegetation cover. These results provide guidance for soil conservation and sustainable land management. This study contributes to understanding regional erosion risks and offers a replicable method for similar regions. Measures to preserve natural resources should be based on scientific evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]