CRITICALITY LEVEL OF THE LAND IN PROTECTED FOREST AREA OF BARABAI CATHMENT AREA, BATANG ALAI SUB WATERSHED, HULU SUNGAI TENGAH REGENCY

Abstract

This researched aims to identify the characteristics of the protected forest area, analyze the criticality level of the land, and determine the direction of controlling the criticality level of the land in the protected forest area of the Barabai catchment area, which part of Batang Alai Sub Watershed, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency. The method in determining the criticality level of the land uses scoring and weighting parameters for land cover, slope, erosion hazard level, and management. The results obtained: 1) The characteristics of protected forest areas in the Barabai catchment area consist of: a) land cover classified as good on steep slopes, land cover classified as moderate on quite steep slopes, and classified as poor on flat slopes b) higher percentage of slopes the lower the criticality level of the land; c) the classification of the highest level of erosion hazard (medium category) is found at five sample points; d) The worse management efforts show the impact on the higher level of critical land; 2) At the research location in the protected forest area of the Barabai catchment area, the level of critical land variate from moderately critical to critical; 3) Efforts to control the criticality level of the land that can be carried out: 1) vegetatively through forest and land rehabilitation, groundwater recharge, and agroforestry; 2) technically through the construction of terraces and sewers; 3) policies through the land management of protected forest areas.