Soil Erosion and Composite Land Degradation Using USLE Model and Geomatics Approaches for Soil Conservation of Mount Data National Park

Abstract

Mount Data National Park (MDNP) situated  across the municipalities of Sabangan, Tadian, and Bauko in Mountain Province, Philippines ( , ), encompasses approximately 3,502.10 hectares of ecologically critical, high-elevation land. This study assessed historical and projected soil erosion dynamics on the plateau, evaluated associated soil degradation risks, and identified key anthropogenic drivers to inform sustainable management strategies. Utilizing Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques alongside the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, and Responses (DPSIR) framework adapted from regional literature, the study revealed significant spatio-temporal dynamics characterized by agricultural expansion and forest contraction. Between 1992 and 2022, agricultural land expanded from 1,267.99 ha to 1,774.73 ha, while shrub and grasslands increased from 549.37 ha to 600.08 ha. Conversely, forest cover declined markedly from 1,374.61 ha in 1990 to 941.91 ha in 2022, and built-up areas decreased from 307.10 ha to 181.42 ha. Predictive modeling through 2030 projects a further reduction in forest cover (by 73.68 ha or 2.13%) and built-up areas (by 61.99 ha or 1.78%), driven by continued gains in agricultural land (87.82 ha or 2.47%) and shrub/grassland (50.71 ha or 1.44%). DPSIR analysis indicates that these conversions trigger severe environmental and socio-economic degradation, including the loss of natural vegetation, terrestrial biodiversity decline, accelerated soil erosion and fertility loss, deteriorated water quality and yield, microclimate alteration, and escalating farm input costs that diminish crop quality. Anthropogenic pressures remain the primary driver of forest conversion to agriculture on the Mount Data National Park (MDNP). To achieve land degradation neutrality, the immediate, wide-scale adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) practices is imperative. It is strongly recommended that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and congressional representatives of the affected areas enact legislative resolutions establishing an inter-agency committee led by the DENR–Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB) to review, revise, and enforce sustainable land-use policies for MDNP.