TYPOLOGY OF DRIVERS OF EROSION AND EROSION POTENTIAL IN THE PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL SUR, PHILIPPINES.

Soil erosion is a serious problem, a threat that may result to temporary or permanent loss of soil productivity. Left unchecked, and with a population that continuous to increase, food will become a serious problem. A threat on soil erosion become evident and hinders soil productivity. Today and in the recent past, remote sensing technology is utilized as part of any developmental work. The aim of this study was to analyze the typology of the drivers of erosion in the Province of Lanao del Sur and to develop an erosion potential map using arcGIS. The total land area of Lanao del Sur is 1,294,728 ha, mostly of the Mountain soil type, undulating to rolling slope, forest reserve land classification, closed canopy and mature trees covering >50% land cover. It has a Type III climate according to Corona classification. The erosion potential of the province is moderate as drawn from the erosion potential map extracted from the attributes of data. The results further suggest the application of control measures such as cover cropping and application of Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) are necessary to lessen the erosion potential in the province. Reservation of the forest and maintenance of at least >70% cover of the land to dissipate the erosive potential of rainfall is also recommended. Overall, the province of Lanao del Sur was not exploited to cause serious problem in erosion.