Sustainable forest strategy based on land capability evaluation in Muna regency, Indonesia

Changes in land use in Muna regency, including the Jompi Watershed, have become the main factor that causes ecosystem damage.This damage impacts drought, decreases land productivity, and disrupts the watershed's hydrological system.To overcome this problem, the management of the Jompi watershed needs to be carried out by combining the interests of soil and water conservation with efforts to increase agricultural production in order to realize sustainable watershed conditions.One of the first steps that can be taken is to evaluate land capabilities.The study seeks to evaluate the land capacity of the Jompi watershed by analyzing data according to land capacity classification criteria.The study results indicated that the land in the Jompi watershed is divided into three classes of ability, namely Class IV, which is primarily constrained by moderate surface rock presence, steep slopes, and poor soil drainage.Class V faces limitations due to slow soil permeability and very poor drainage.Meanwhile, Class VIII is restricted by coarse soil texture and rapid soil permeability.The recommended land use direction is in forest areas, land use areas, and production forests for classes IV and V; it is recommended to implement agroforestry systems with conservation actions by creating terraces and adding organic matter.For class VIII, it is recommended that the land be left naturally.In protected forest areas for classes IV, V, and VIII, the land is recommended to be maintained as a protected forest or left in nature.This approach is expected to support more sustainable forest management.