Land degradation (LD) adversely impacts ecosystem functions and agricultural productivity, affecting over 1.5 billion people globally, with causes attributed to both natural processes (erosion, salinization) and human activities like poor land management. In Indonesia, the Citarum watershed is a notable area suffering from severe erosion due to its climatic conditions, affecting approximately 14 million hectares. Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), this study aims to prioritize restoration efforts by mapping LD and evaluating factors such as land use, soil erosion, slope, productivity, and management.
The middle Citarum sub-watershed (MCSW) serves as the study area, revealing varying rates of soil erosion using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Prioritization of restoration efforts resulted in categorizing degraded areas into high, medium, and low priorities for conservation based on erosion levels and land management. Findings indicate that most areas are classified as potentially degraded with significant potential for further deterioration if not managed properly.
The study emphasizes the importance of integrating various analytical models to effectively assess and mitigate LD, highlighting that forested areas face less degradation compared to agricultural lands. The research lays the groundwork for future watershed management strategies by combining methodologies that can be adapted to tackle similar ecological challenges globally.
