Agriculture land resources protection through strategic environmental assessment: Case study in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi-Indonesia

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Linking development activities with the conservation of food land resources has become a very important issue in sustainable development. However, the facts show that the damage or loss of food land resources continues even at an increasing rate. This trend is further exacerbated by policies on land conversion and over-exploitation of natural resources, as well as the absence of information on the importance of the land. Consequently, there will be changes in the ecosystem and the optimal function of the land. Protection of food and land resources must start with policy-making and be followed by development program planning. The problem of this research is how the conversion of agricultural land into residential areas and shrimp pond areas in Parigi Moutong Regency, describes how the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as an instrument of protection of agricultural land resources in Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi. Agricultural land resources are one of the important aspects of the food security program that should be considered in SEA. The development of urban centers or expansion of settlements and large-scale land clearing for plantations or mining often harm food land resources. Therefore, development plans and programs must be properly designed through prediction, evaluation, and mitigation of possible negative impacts. This research found that the involvement of stakeholders such as; local government, council members, academics, businesses, and NGOs as well as the community can generate some issues and strategies related to the loss or damage of agricultural land resources due to development activities and design alternative recommendations for improvement in Parigi Moutong District.