High conservation value approach in controlling water catchment area as a provider of environmental services

Abstract

Catchment area is very important known for the protection of water resources as a provider of environmental services. Increasing population will increase water demand and the extent of land utilization. The purpose of this research is to determine the areas of high conservation value in the control of water catchment area at Peusangan Watershed as a provider of environmental services. One of the High Conservation Value (HCV) approaches is focused on water providers and flood control for downstream communities; and control of erosion and sedimentation. HCV is a spatial analysis, hence the use of multi-temporal satellite imagery and data processing using GIS plays an important role in the HCV assessment process. The results obtained, water catchment area in both natural and normal conditions 57.92%, getting critical 25.08% and rather critical, critical and very critical categories 17.0%. Sub-watershed in Peusangan Watershed area which has the largest critical area is Krueng Ceilala Sub-watershed (75, 56%) and Lut Tawar Sub-watershed (77.35%). Moderate Krueng Simpo Sub-watershed (35.44%) and Krueng Mane Sub-watershed (42, 17%). Krueng Ceulala Sub-watershed and Lut Tawar Sub-watershed is the upstream area of Peusangan Watershed which serves as a conservation area that needs to be kept in order to provide water availability in the transition and downstream Krueng Peusangan areas are to be maintained, as well as providing an impact in providing natural environment services and area that serves as water provider and flood controllers for downstream communities. The existence of water springs and rivers whose water has been utilized by the community is evidence that the area of watershed is high conservation value, due to the conversion of the land function that removes vegetation cover on the upstream causing functionality of the catchment area decreases.