Jodhpur, Sept. 13 -- A new study has revealed that a large part of Rajasthan's land is vulnerable to desertification, with nearly one-third of the state showing moderate to high levels of risk. The research, carried out by Anamika Sinha and Prof. VS Rathore of the department of remote sensing and geoinformatics at Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, used satellite data and advanced mapping techniques to assess land degradation across the desert state. The study found that 20.53% of Rajasthan's area falls under moderate vulnerability, while 11.67% is highly vulnerable, mainly in the southern and eastern regions. These are areas where growing human pressures combine with extreme climate conditions, making land degradation more severe. Prof. Rathore explained that the danger is further increased by Rajasthan's exposure to droughts and extreme weather, noting that flash floods during the monsoon often worsen soil erosion in regions with poor vegetation cover. The findings, he said, highlight the urgent need for disaster preparedness and soil conservation to be integrated into desertification control strategies. The research measured four main factors that drive desertification - soil quality, vegetation cover, climate conditions and socio-economic pressures. Among these, soil quality emerged as the most critical factor, with the study showing that over 90% of Rajasthan's land has very low soil quality. Only small patches in the south and southeast showed high or very high soil fertility. This, the researchers argue, makes soil management central to any effort to control desertification. Vegetation quality was also found to play a decisive role. While most of the state (88.81%) has moderate vegetation cover, high-quality vegetation is limited to the east, southeast and some northwestern pockets. The study points out that maintaining and improving vegetation cover is essential, especially in areas with high vulnerability, since plants act as a protective layer against soil erosion. On the climate front, the study paints a stark picture: 87.04% of the state falls in the very low climate quality class, showing how limited rainfall, high temperatures and strong winds increase desertification risk. Similarly, socio-economic factors such as population density, literacy and employment were mapped. While 34.89% of the area showed low socio-economic quality, patches of high and very high socio-economic stress were scattered across the state, adding to environmental pressures. Prof. Rathore said, "This study has developed a comprehensive framework to assess desertification vulnerability in Rajasthan, using Earth Observation satellite data, GIS, and the AHP." By integrating multiple environmental and social indicators, the research identifies soil degradation, vegetation loss, climate variability and human activities as the key drivers of desertification. The authors recommend practical measures tailored to Rajasthan's conditions: promoting drought-resistant crops such as bajra (pearl millet), guar (cluster bean) and moth bean, which require little water and are already part of traditional farming; prioritising afforestation and sand dune stabilisation in the Thar desert with native species like khejri, ber and kher; and reviving traditional water harvesting systems such as khadins, johads and tankas. Strengthening local institutions like Pani Panchayats and watershed committees, along with community-led programmes under MGNREGA, is also suggested as a way to ensure long-term success....