Condition assessment tools are required to evaluate stability and achieve holistic management in brittle desert ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate function status of rangelands around Gavkhooni international wetland using Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) and Cover Directional Leakiness Index (CDLI). The results of these two methods were then compared in various desertification o obtain three function status indices of soil surface including soil stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling. Six range places were selected and three transects with 50 m length were established along the dominant wind direction in each place. Length and width of all patches and length of inter-patch spaces (bare soil) were measures along transects, and 11 soil surface indicators were evelauated for each patch and inter-patch types with three replication in each site. Soil samples were collected randomly from patch and inter-patch spaces and their EC, Sodium absorption ratio (SAR), pH, calcium, magnesium, CaCO 3 , CaSO 4 , saturated percentage (SP), sand, silt, clay, gravel percentage, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphor, and potassium contents were measured. CDLI index was measured using remote sensing techniques to evaluate the function status of each range place. NDVI, SAVI-A, PD54, and STVI-1 indices were also calculated to measure vegetation cover and CDLI index for each range place. Results indicated that the range place with planted Haloxylon persicum , control (place next to Haloxylon planted area with no treatment), sandy area, places with dominant plant species including, Seidlitzia rosmarinus , Halocnemus strobilaceum , and wetland area were categorized in very severe desertification Key Words: Gavkhooni wetland, desert ecosystem, desertification, Landscape function analysis, remote sensing.
