Analisis Perubahan Tutupan Lahan di Kabupaten Toba Tahun 2014-2022

Abstract

Toba Regency is a regency located at an altitude of 900-2200 meters above sea level (masl), with a population of 206,199 people in the year 2020. Toba Regency contributes 1.39% to the total population of North Sumatra. The increasing population each year has led to competition in meeting the basic needs and settlement areas in Toba Regency. Therefore, research on land cover changes is needed to make informed decisions regarding regional planning. Land cover change is an important issue in understanding environmental dynamics and natural resource management. In this study, an analysis of land cover changes in Toba Regency from 2014 to 2022 was conducted using the Google Earth Engine platform. The main objective was to analyze the changes in land cover that have occurred in Toba Regency by creating training samples to identify land cover types. Based on the research findings, there are seven land cover classes: forests, built-up areas, open areas, agriculture, water bodies, shrubs, and oil palm plantations. The largest land cover class is natural forests, covering an area of 122.542 hectares or 61,13 % of the total area of Toba Regency. The land cover class with the largest area is water bodies, covering an area of 103.07 hectares or 0,05% of the total area of Toba Regency. The results of the change detection analysis indicate that forest land cover is constantly changing. It is essential to raise awareness and educate the public about sustainable land use practices to prevent land use conversion.