沙漠研究 22-1, 115 -117 (2012 )"ICAL 1 / DT X"

Journal of Arid Land Studies－Refereed Paper－Interaction Between Land Use and Land Degradation Processes
in Arid Regions (The Case of Kuwait)
Raafat MISAK*
Abstract: During the last 20 years, significant changes in land-use were observed in Kuwait. Some of these changes have positiveenvironmental and ecological impacts, while others have destructive effects. Establishment of the buffer zone (15 km width andmore than 200 km length) between Iraq and Kuwait in 1993-1994 resulted in the restoration of biodiversity, enhancement of ecological
functioning and stabilization of fragile soils. Constructing long bund walls and digging of a border trench have negative impact onsoil, surface hydrologic conditions and natural vegetation. The purpose of this study is to assess the immediate and long term impactsof specific land use types (the border trench and bund wall) and to identify their interaction to land degradation processes. To realize
the objective of the study, intensive field program was designed and implemented. Field investigations were accompanied by remotesensing analyses and interpretation.
Keywords: Bund walls, Environmental impact and border trench.
and soil salinization are recorded.

1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
Kuwait covers about 118,000 km2. From west and north,
it is bordered by Iraq and from south by Saudi Arabia. The
Arabian Gulf skirts Kuwait from east. The border of Kuwait
with Iraq is marked by a ground trench (about 3-5 m wide and2-3 m deep). This trench was established by Kuwait in
1993-1994. On the other hand, the border between Kuwait
and Saudi Arabia is marked by a bund wall (2-3 m high and3-5 m wide). This bund wall was established by Saudi Arabia
in 1991. Both the trench and bund wall caused significant
change in the local environmental and hydrological conditions.
As stated by Al-Awadhi et al. (2005), Misak et al. (1999,2000, 2003, 2009 and 2010) land degradation processes prevailin the majority of the terrestrial environment of Kuwait, whichconstitutes about 80% of the country. Land degradation
processes include: loss of top soils (through both wind andwater erosion), soil crusting, sealing and compaction, loss ofsoil productivity, soil salinization, hydrological disruption,
vegetation degradation and as results loss of biodiversity. The
magnitude, mechanism and extent of land degradation exhibit
remarkable variations in the different land use categories(Misak et al., 2003).
In the open desert areas (close to 75% of Kuwait), where
livestock grazing is the major land use type, indicators of soil,vegetation and hydrological degradation as well as loss of
biodiversity are prevailing. In the agricultural areas (about
2.7% of Kuwait), depletion of soil productivity, water logging* Corresponding Author: rmisak@kisr.edu.kw
P.O Box: 24885, 13109 Safat-Kuwait1) Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

To assess the impact of the border trench and bund wall on
land degradation, the following activities were conducted:• Digitization of major and secondary drainage basins(wadis) using ArcGIS 9.3. A new map for drainage
basins was produced.
• Identification of zones of hydrologic disruption wheredrainage basins are dissected by human induced barriers,
such as bund walls (2-3 m high and 3-4 m wide), trenches(3-5 m wide and 2-3 m depth) and highways .
• Ground truth of remote sensing data through eight fieldtrips.

3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Land Degradation Processes
3.1.1. Soil Mining, Vegetation Degradation and Loss ofBiodiversity
It is estimated that about 12,720,000 m3 and 375,000 m3 ofsoil were excavated to establish the border trench and the bundwall. At the same time at least 2,544,000 m2 and 1,500,000
m2 were disturbed by heavy machinery during digging thetrench and establishing the bund wall (Table 1). At these
disturbed areas, all plant species including Haloxylon
salicornicum were removed.

Table 1. Approximate amount of excavated soils and disturbed areas along Kuwait-Iraq border.
Land use type
(introduced form)

Amount ofexcavated soils

Total amount ofexcavated soils

Disturbed area

Total disturbed area2(m2)Remarks(m3/km length)(m3)(m /km length)

Border trench

6,000

12,720,000

12,0002,544,000

T otal length 212 km

Bund wall

2,500

375,000

10,0001,500,000

T otal length 150 km

T otal--13,095,000-----

4,044,000

Table 2. Causes, indicators and potential impact of surface hydrological disruption.
Zone of disruption

Area

Main causes of2(km )

disruption

Indicators of disruption

Potential impact

Blocking of runoff water & out washed
Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border1961.7

Border bund wall

sediments at the upstream portions ofsands.

wadis.
Border trenches and bundwalls.
Wadi Al Batin

552.2

Road segments (Salmi andAbraq)

Al Ritqa ̵ Abdaly

Development of new sources of dust andTrapping of surface run off in border trench.

Blocking of runoff water & out washedsediments at the upstream portions ofHydrologic drought.

Development of new sources of dust andsands.

wadis.
Blocking of runoff water & out

748.1

Road

washed sediments at the upstream
portions of wadis.
Disturbance of recharge conditions of

Abdaly Road

Raudtain-Um El Eish714.2

North-south bund walls

East-West bund walls

Blocking of runoff water & out

fresh

washed sediments along segments ofRaudtain-Um El Eish.

AbdalyRoad,

Ritqa

cut

groundwateraquifersofand

north-south & east-west bund walls

Fig. 1. Zones of surface hydrologic disruption.

Development of new sources of dust andsands.

3.1.2. Surface Hydrologic Disruption

Based on the results of the present study, four zones ofsurface hydrological disruption are described and mapped (Fig.
1 and Table 2). These are:- Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border (1961.7 km2)
- Wadi Al Batin (552.2 km2)
- Al Ritqa ̵ Abdaly (748.1 km2 )- Raudtain ̵ Um El Eish (714.2 km2)

4. Recommendation
To restore the border zone between Kuwait and Iraq, it
is recommended to design and implement a watershedmanagement for the eastern tributaries of Wadi Al Batin.
Cost effective water harvesting techniques including earth
dykes (1-2 m high) are strongly recommended. Thisapproach was successively tested in Kuwait (Al Dousari et al.,2007). The harvested water could be used for irrigation ofdrought resistance trees and shrubs as well as for otherpurposes.

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