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Participatory land use allocation in Besitang Watershed, Langkat, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Dissertation Abstract:
This study was conducted to develop a framework for participatory and improved land use decision-making in Besitang Watershed, Langkat, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Specifically, it aimed to: assess land use changes; estimate soil erosion under different land uses; analyze the actual and potential suitability of the lands for several annual, estate, and silvicultural crops; determine the current and potential land use suitability with stakeholder participation; and develop a spatial participatory land use allocation based on integrated approach to ensure sustainability. Socioeconomic information and physical data were derived from interviews and field survey. Collective opinion was derived from the workshop with stakeholders. Geographic information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were employed for land use allocation. The universal soil loss equation (USLE) was used to determine soil erosion in each land system.
Remarkable land use changes occurred from 1990 to 2006. Large portion of primary forest (82%) was converted to secondary forest, followed by conversion of mangrove forest into fish pond (30%). The mean soil erosion was classified as Class 2 and large areas were under suitable land uses based on erosion index. Land capability of Besitang watershed ranged from Class II to VI. The majority of land was under the land capability Class III. Land systems with very steep slopes were not suitable for several annual and estate crops, and silvicultural species. In general, both annual and estate crops as well as silvicultural species are not suitable (N) in the lower stream of the watershed due to drainage and flooding hazard.
Alternative for forestry in Besitang Watershed based on integrated approach had very high suitability (63%). Agriculture use had high (63%) to very high (37%) suitability while settlement area had low (23%) to moderate (77%) suitability. Fishery use had low (47%), moderate (18%), and high (35%) suitability. Industry had very low suitability in all decision zones (100%). Based on allocation for multipleuse, Besitang watershed had very high potential suitability for forestry (63%) and agriculture (37%) land uses.
The integrated approach using GIS and AHP in facilitating land use decisionmaking can serve as a tool for land use allocation and policy formulation, as well as for scientific investigations. This approach provides participatory involvement of stakeholders in land use allocation. This approach provides efficient and reliable land use allocation for watershed management, since it involves the physical components as well as participation of stakeholders to ensure sustainability.