THE DYNAMICS OF LAND COVER CHANGE AND CAUSAL FACTORS IN THE KURANJI WATERSHED

Abstract

Landcover changes (LCC) are one indicator of an increase in population in a watershed area that demands the provision of housing locations, road infrastructure, and productive land to meet the needs of life. LCC can positively impact the form of increased land use values and incomes, while also negative impacts in the form of erosion, landslides, and floods. The watershed area should have a balance in its development. This research is important as a first step in overcoming changes in land cover that can threaten the sustainability and sustainability of the Kuranji watershed. The aim of the study is to reveal the LCC from 1985 to 2018 and its causal factors in the Kuranji watershed. The methodology used is descriptive qualitative with 60 respondents. Data were obtained by interviewing respondents. Respondents are those having agricultural land and working in the agricultural sector and this research was carried out in 2019. The results showed an increase in the type of land cover of settlements and mixed gardens, while forests, rice fields and shrubs have decreased. The main factor influencing changes in land cover is economical (59%), followed by social factors (25%) and political factors (16%). It was also found that local wisdom of the Minangkabau culture was able to reduce LCC. In Minangkabau, the land owned by the community, in general, is a legacy from generation to generation that cannot be sold without significant reasons.