Land Use Change in Tropical Watersheds: Will It Support Natural Resources Sustainability?

Overexploitation of natural resources for national development has resulted in rapid land-use changes in Indonesia. The incompatibility of land-use changes in tropical watersheds on its designation can result in the degradation of natural resources, threaten land sustainability, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and impact global climate change. The amount, duration, and intensity of extreme rainfall impact the increasing number of hydrological disasters such as floods and landslides. This situation can be exacerbated by changes in land use that are incompatible with their sustainable watershed management function. This paper discusses the importance of sustainability in watershed management to ensure natural resource allocation for future generations. Integrated watershed management is required in natural resource management by integrating biophysical and socio-economic aspects to produce good water quality environmental services. This concept will harmonize the benefits of economic, environmental, and socio-cultural values to support natural resources management and live in a dignified and sustainable manner.