Forest cover change analysis in

the Kupang Regency of West

Timor using a Landsat image Timor using a Landsat image

time series (1972-2006).

MODIS IMAGE

• This study was originally initiated in response to studies avian funa which indicated that several rare Timor-endemic birds were threatened by deforestation.

• This project will build on this work and expand the analysis to look at cause and effects of deforestation in

WhyWhy

analysis to look at cause and effects of deforestation in the Kupang district of West Timor.

• Reliable social, economic and natural resource base data is essential for sustainable development in Eastern Indonesia. To-date there has been a research focus on the ‘carbon rich’ forests of western Indonesia.

• Remote sensing will be a tool to produce a broad overview of the state of forests in Kupang district of west Timor.

• Areas of significant and verifiable change will be used as case studies for more through social, economic and environmental analysis.

HowHow

case studies for more through social, economic and environmental analysis.

• Working with and building capacity in local government agencies is an important component of this research.

West TimorWest Timor

• One of the poorest regions in

eastern indonesia

• Around 261000 people live on

mainland Kab.

• Kupang with around 50% working • Kupang with around 50% working

as low income or subsistence

farmers.

• The livelihoods are often

augmented by forest resources

such as building materials, wild

foods and natural medicines.

West TimorWest Timor

West TimorWest Timor

Bipolo

1972

851 Ha

Bipolo

Bipolo

1984

815 Ha

Bipolo

Bipolo

1994

356 Ha

Bipolo2006

168 Ha

1994

2006

A total of 18 ha of forest was

cleared between 1994 and

2000 on country with slopes up

to 32%. It appears that this

clearing could have contributed

to a land slip of around 20ha,

clearly visible in 2006

• Seasonality

– Greening

– Fires

• Substrate material

– Low vegetation cover

– Rocky soils

• In eastern Indonesia through the process of political

decentralisation there has been a devolution of budgeting and

development planning powers to the Kabupaten level without

a corresponding provision of the base data and analysis skills

for required for good decision making

• Whilst satellite based monitoring in western Indonesia is

advancing there needs to be a parallel development

supporting local governments to map and monitor natural

resources to support decision making. Making this happen

will be a test of Indonesia’s commitment to regional autonomy

and good natural resource governance.

• International focus on forest for carbon in western Indonesia equals less interest in the forests of Eastern Indonesia?

• Technologies enhancing transparency and promoting common interests in sustainable environmental common interests in sustainable environmental management and economic wellbeing should be an important component of regional development.

• IT has the potential to reduce or exacerbate social inequities, to further concentrate power in a techno-elite or to democratise information it all depends on who controls the information and analysis.

• Skill base needs to reside at

the provincial and district level

for effective planning.

• Technology not too expensive

or too ‘complex’.or too ‘complex’.

• Link with national and

international programs to

support regional capacity

building.

GIS Conference GIS Conference

•• GIS Applications for Sustainable GIS Applications for Sustainable Development and Good Governance in Development and Good Governance in Eastern Indonesia & Timor Eastern Indonesia & Timor LesteLeste 55--6 6 MayMay

MODIS IMAGE