Identification of landscape disturbance in the Parangtritis sand dune area for sustainable environment

Abstract

In 2014, the Parangtritis sand dunes area has been established as a geological natural preserve. Due to its distinctive characteristics and uniqueness, the Parangtritis sand dunes area is included to the privilege values of Yogyakarta Province. This research aims to 1) identify various anthropogenic activities that possibly affecting the natural process of the Parangtritis sand dunes, 2) formulate appropriate management actions to ensure the continuity of aeolian process. Several anthropogenic activities were identified in the research area such as settlements, agriculture, fishponds, and coastal forest cultivation. Among those anthropogenic activities, coastal forest cultivation is the most threatening activity to the aeolian process of the Parangtritis sand dunes. Beside the density of the vegetation, much also inhibit the sand transport as the main controlling factor for the formation of sand dunes. For precise management actions, sand dunes zonation is urgently required. The whole area in the supply zone must be cleared from any anthropogenic activities to keep the sand sufficient. The transport zone, where the sand is actively transported also should be cleared from anthropogenic activities, especially from coastal forest cultivation. In this zone, indigenous vegetation are allowed to grow as biodiversity icon. The accumulation zone is suitable for coastal forest cultivation as a barrier and protection for the settlement area and agriculture area outside the Parangtritis sand dunes.