Land Suitability Evaluation for Plantation Forest Development Based on Multi-criteria Approach

Abstract

Information of land suitability is needed to prioritize suitable forest plantation for land use development. This is important to increase land productivity and eficiency on forest management decision making process. This research aimed to: (1) to evaluate land suitability based on pedo-agroclimate characteristics for plantation forest development; (2) to identify the farming-based socio-cultural and economic characteristics; (3) to determine the priority level of trees that will be cultivated through plantation forest development. This research was conducted from January to May 2015 in four districts namely: Kapontori, Lasalimu, South Lasalimu, and Siotapina (KALALASSI region). These are located in Buton Island, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The research method used was a spatial research method using GIS [1];[3]. The research has three main activities: data collection, evaluation, and mapping. Data collection included data on land biophysics, climate, and forest management development using survey method. Land evaluation was carried out on FAO method [14] and [15]. The major of trees were determined using LQ method [16] and the priority level of trees determine using MCDM method through the application of AHP [3];[4]. The last but not the least, spatial data development was used to map recommended forest land uses. The results showed that: (1) there were three major of trees in the research area, namely: Teak, Mahogany and Silk Tree; (2) based on land suitability classification, there are two classes found in the KALALASSI region, namely: moderately suitable (S2) which were located 3,836.05 ha for Teak and Mahagony, and Marginally Suitable (S3), which are located 3,343.45 ha for Teak, 3,467.20 ha for Mahagony, and 10,106.22 ha for Silk Tree; (3) the sequence of trees priority in KALALASSI region is Teak, Silk Tree, and Mahogany, then based on these recommendation, forest land uses and management plan were developed.