Author : Rahmawaty

Summary : This study was conducted to develop a framework for participatory and improved land use decision-making in Besitang Watershed, Langkat, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Specifically, it aimed to: assess land use changes, estimate soil erosion under different land uses, analyze the actual and potential suitability of the lands for several annual, estate and silvicultural crops, determine the current and potential land use suitability with stakeholder participation, and develop a spatial participatory land use allocation absed on integrated approach to ensure sustainability. Socio-economic information and physical data were derived from interviews and field survey. Collective opinion was derived from the workshop with stakeholders. Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were used for land use allocation. The Universal Soil Loss equation (USLE) was used to determine soil erosion in each land system. Remarkable land use changes occurred from 1990 to 2006. Large portion of primary forest (82%) were converted to secondary forest, followed by conversion of mangrove forest into fish pond (30%). The mean soil erosion is classified as Class 2 and large areas are under suitable land uses based on erosion index. Land capability of Besitang Watershed ranges from Class II to VI. The majority of land is under the land capability Class III. LAnd systems with very steep slopes were not suitable for several annual and estate crops and silvicultural species. In general both annual and estate crops as well as silvicultural species are not suitable (N) in the lower stream of the watershed, due to for drainage and flooding hazard. The most significant contributions of integrated approach using GIS and AHP in facilitating land use decision-making were: as a tool for land use allocation and policy formulation, as well as for scientific investigations. This approach provides participatory involvement of stakeholders in land use allocation.