Modeling Sediment Dynamics and Identifying Key Erosion Sources in Abandoned Terraced Landscapes: Insights from Land Cover Change Analysis. The case study of Vernazza Catchment, Liguria, Italy.

Abandoned terraced landscapes face heightened risks of soil erosion and slope instabilities, contributing to significant sediment dynamics that threaten environmental sustainability and land productivity. This study leverages the LISEM (Limburg Soil Erosion Model) to assess sediment sources, transport pathways, and soil erosion sources within these fragile terrains. By combining very high-resolution spatial data, soil profiling, and hydrological modelling, we identified major sediment-generating zones and quantified their contributions under varying rainfall scenarios.

Our analysis highlights the critical role of land use and land cover (LULC) changes in driving erosion processes, with unmanaged vegetation and abandoned terraces emerging as key contributors to sediment mobilization and slope failures. The model outputs reveal spatial variability in sediment yield and erosion intensity, pinpointing critical hotspots requiring targeted conservation measures.

These findings emphasize the importance of nature-based solutions and sustainable land management practices to mitigate erosion and sediment transport risks. The research contributes to developing adaptive strategies for stabilizing slopes and restoring abandoned terraced landscapes, offering actionable insights for global applications in similar environments.