Land use management and carrying capacity of Bangsri Micro Watershed, East Java, Indonesia: A baseline study

Rini Dwiastuti, Nuri Nurlaila Setiawan, Anisa Aprilia, Fitrotul Laili and Putri Budi Setyowati

Abstract: The increase of unsustainable human activities in watershed areas gave a huge pressure, causing land degradation and reduced the river water quality. This study aimed to describe the land use management and calculate the carrying capacity as a part of natural resource management of Bangsri Micro Watershed, the upper Brantas watershed in East Java, Indonesia. Data was gathered from five villages through interviews, questionnaires, and focus group discussions with multiple stakeholders. In addition, data from the local government statistics bureau (i.e., Statistics Indonesia) was also used. From the total 2 765 ha land area, eight different land use were identified with agroforestry (970 ha) being the largest and bare land (43 ha) being the smallest. There were 17 crop patterns with 10 different commodities recorded. Based on the present land use, the total land monetary value (biocapacity) was 298 billion Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) or equal to 27 278 tonnes of rice production. From the total population of 27 645; the total annual income (i.e., ecological footprint based on the minimum wage and real household income) needed is 577-854 billion IDR (72 101-106 771 tonnes of rice), thus considered as a deficit carrying capacity value. An urgent watershed management planning is needed to reduce the environmental pressure while ensuring the fulfilment needs of the people in Bangsri Micro Watershed.

Keywords: Bangsri Micro Watershed; carrying capacity; East Java; sustainability; upper Brantas watershed

Date published: 2021-02-25