The College of Education for Humanities at the University of Basra investigated changes in vegetation cover in Al-Qurna District.
The study, presented by student Ruqaya Abdul Hussein Ahmed, aimed to analyze spatial and temporal changes in vegetation cover in Al-Qurna District using Landsat satellite data from 1986 to 2024. The study relied on summer imagery as it most accurately represents seasonal variations in vegetation cover. The study employed a guided classification technique using the maximum probability method to analyze land cover types, utilizing the NDVI index to determine the level of change in plant density. The results revealed a significant decline in green areas, decreasing from 41.8 km² in 1986 to negative levels in most subsequent years. The lowest value was recorded in 2016 at approximately -30.2 km², before rising slightly to -46.7 km² in 2024. The study concludes that there is a general trend towards continuous deterioration due to accumulated environmental, climatic, and human factors. The study also demonstrated the effectiveness of modern geographic technologies, namely remote sensing and information systems, in providing a crucial and accurate basis for studying vegetation cover. This is due to the ability of satellites to cover vast areas simultaneously, enabling the study of variables and the provision of periodic and continuous information over long periods. Furthermore, the use of geographic technologies saves time and effort and reduces the financial costs associated with calculating areas.
Satellite imagery is a vital and fundamental component in studying vegetation cover, given the availability of multiple images over many years and across different seasons within a single year.
