Spatial Distribution of Forest Cover for the Harmony and Sustainability of Watershed Ecosystem

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 58 - 65, 17.06.2025

Akhbar Akhbar Misrah Misrah

Abstract

The harmony and sustainability of the watershed ecosystem are vital to maintaining the conservation, protection, and production functions in line with the environment’s carrying capacity. The spatial distribution of forest cover was linked to the sufficiency of forest area to analyze the harmony and sustainability of the watershed ecosystem. This research aims to analyze distribution patterns and forest cover areas supported by sufficient forest area so that the harmony and sustainability of the ecosystem in the watershed area are maintained. A descriptive spatial analysis using GIS was employed. The study was conducted in the Laa Watershed with an area of 318,494 Ha. The findings indicated that forest area and forest cover are 63.17% and 58.24% of the watershed area, respectively. Regarding the environmental carrying capacity for harmony and sustainability, the conservation function was in harmony with the watershed ecosystem. Meanwhile, the functional analysis of the protected and cultivated areas found that 16.08% of the protected areas were suitable for production function. In comparison 13.34% of the cultivated area was suitable for protective function. To realize the harmony and sustainability of the ecosystem in the watershed area, it is necessary to re-examine the directions for spatial allocation based on the environment’s carrying capacity.

Keywords

Harmpony , Sustainability , Ecosystem , Forests , Watershed

Supporting Institution

Faculty of Forestry, Tadulako University, the Center for Watershed Management of Palu Poso

Project Number

-

Thanks

We are thankful to the Center for Watershed Management of Palu Poso and the Faculty of Forestry, Tadulako University for the support from the preparation of field studies to article report. We are also indebted to our colleagues for both direct and indirect assistances during the completion and publication of this scientific article.

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