Assessment of Land Cover Changes and an Exploration of the Sustainability Key Factors at Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia

Between 2000 and 2020, Al-Ahsa Oasis—a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape in Saudi Arabia—experienced significant land cover changes (LCC), with vegetation declining by 324.35 hectares and desert shrinking by 1625.81 hectares, while bare ground and urban areas expanded by 1389.79 and 560.37 hectares, respectively. A binary logistic model (BLM) identified key sustainability factors influencing these changes: climate change, elderly farmers (>50 years), and small farm sizes increased LCC likelihood (odds ratio >1), while modern irrigation techniques, technology adoption, and labor availability mitigated it (odds ratio <1). Urban sprawl had a non-significant negative effect. The study recommends targeted interventions—such as promoting sustainable practices among elderly farmers, enhancing plant resilience, and scaling up farm sizes—to preserve Al-Ahsa’s agricultural heritage amid climate pressures.

Alkhaldi, G. F., Mosbah, E. B., & Emam, A. A. (2025). Assessment of Land Cover Changes and an Exploration of the Sustainability Key Factors at Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 17(23), 10821. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310821