Forest cover change analysis in

the Kupang Regency of West

Timor using a Landsat image
time series (1972-2006).
MODIS IMAGE
Why
• 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
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.
How
• 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.

• Working with and building capacity in local government

agencies is an important component of this research.
West Timor
• One of the poorest regions in
eastern indonesia

• Around 261000 people live on

mainland Kab.

• 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 Timor
West Timor
Bipolo Bipolo
1972

851 Ha
Bipolo Bipolo
1984

815 Ha
Bipolo
1994

356 Ha
Bipolo
2006

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
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’.

• Link with national and

international programs to
support regional capacity
building.
GIS Conference

• GIS Applications for Sustainable

Development and Good Governance in
Eastern Indonesia & Timor Leste 5-6
May
MODIS IMAGE