Spatial Analysis of The Correlation Between Hot Spot Distribution and Land Cover Type in Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Based on land cover data of 2015, Sumatra is dominated by shrubs, bushes, plantations with hardwoods, and plantations. It is the island with the largest peat distribution in Indonesia. Peatland forest map provided by Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2015 represent that the total area of peatland in Sumatra is about 9.6 million hectares, mostly located in Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra Province. Fire incidents can be indicated through hot spots distribution data. The data used is the distribution of hot spot of Sumatra in 2005–2016. The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of hot spot distribution and its relations with land cover changes. Overlay results indicate that 31.75% fires occur in shrubs and bushes, 20.87% in plantations with hardwoods, 16.60% in other natural cleared areas, 14.55% in forest crops, and the rest spreads in lowland crops, dry season crops, and swamp / peat forests. The highest hot spots are in 2005 and 2015 due to the El Nino effect that causes prolonged drought. Available land cover data indicates a change during 1990 through 2011. Most of peat land turn into plantation between 1990 to 2000. The result of overlay of hot spot distribution with land cover data from 2006–2015 shows that forest fires mostly occur in industrial plantation forest. This can be seen from the land cover classification where previously a plantation forest, then it is burned into a field and become an industrial plantation forest. Nevertheless, this analysis still need to be validated through ground truth to check the actual land cover and land use in field.