Identification of Land Cover Changes and its Impact on Biodiversity in Kalimantan Island

Abstract

The land cover change that happens on Kalimantan Island has the biggest contribution to forest area reduction. High population density, clean water crisis, and land carrying capacity degradation in Java Island are among the reasons for the Indonesian National Capital City relocation from DKI Jakarta to East Kalimantan. New capital city development is inseparable from land acquisition activities which can escalate land conversion. The land cover change that is already occurring, coupled with the National Capital City (IKN) development plan, are threats to biodiversity in Kalimantan. To minimize the negative impacts, it is necessary to plan for flora and fauna conservation programs in Kalimantan. This study aims to identify land cover change patterns on biodiversity on Kalimantan and analyze suitable areas for conservation sites based on ecosystem services index, topography, and accessibility. In this study, biodiversity is represented by the ecosystem services index, while the land cover change pattern on biodiversity is represented by changes in the ecosystem services index for biodiversity. Analysis of suitable areas for conservation is determined based on several criteria, (1) very high and high class of ecosystem service indexes, (2) located at more than 9 km from arterial and collector roads, and (3) considering the adjacent grid area. The ecosystem services index in high, and moderate classes has decreased since 1990 – 2020, and land cover changes that dominate this change occur in the conversion of forest class to dryland agriculture, plantations, and other vegetation with lower ecosystem service values.