Spatial Based Assessment for Conservation Area Development in Rainwater Catchment Area of Tropical Reservoir, Indonesia

Regional food needs increase due to population growth as found in developing countries. Intensification and extensification of agricultural land are solutions to accelerate food production, but often, these activities are not accompanied by adequate conservation practices. This study aims to assess the suitability of land for conservation area development using robusta coffee plants (Coffea Canephora). This type of conservation is chosen based on the environmental economics approach consideration. The study used seven indicators (annual rainfall, air temperature, air humidity, soil type, soil acidity, soil organic content, and land slope) to assess land suitability levels for coffee plants. Those indicators were provided in raster format and analyzed in ArcGIS 10.8 and then categorized into four sequential scores, namely highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and unsuitable (N). The results indicate 97.50 of the area in the moderately suitable class, while 0.27 of the study site covered a suitable class area, and 2.47 of the area had a marginally suitable class. This finding allows the development of 4.64 of the potential (unused) area in the catchment area to increase vegetation cover by using coffee plants. This research provides important information for watershed management, especially for catchment area conservation planning. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.