Soil erosion risk assessment in arid Mediterranean regions using GIS and the MEDALUS Model: The Soubella sub-Catchment, Algeria
This study investigates soil erosion and land degradation in the Soubella sub-watershed of the Hodna region, Algeria, an area shaped by dryland climatic conditions ranging from semi-arid to arid. To evaluate erosion risk, the MEDALUS (Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use) model was combined with GIS-based spatial analysis. Soil erosion represents a critical environmental challenge in water-limited regions, where harsh climate and human pressures intensify land degradation.