Development of ecosystem health index in rural areas of Java Island: Preliminary results

Abstract

The assessment of ecosystem health in Indonesia is currently being conducted poorly since no national guidance standard. This study aimed to formulate a quantitative system to justify the rural ecosystem quality with six indicators, i.e. air pollution index (API), water pollution index (WPI), forest coverage index (FCI), biodiversity index, public health and environmental health. This research is a type of basic and applied research at the same time, where applied research lies in the implementation part of the ecosystem health index. Environmental conditions at rural areas of Java Island (Regencies of Pandeglang, Bandung, Temanggung, Magetan and Bangkalan) was evaluated. Secondary data collection from local environmental management and health authorities was conducted in March-May 2019. The data is expressed into indices with a value of each components ranging from 0 to 100. The ecosystem quality of Bandung Regency, Temanggung Regency, Bangkalan Regency, Magetan Regency quantitatively showing numbers of 67.03, 80.68, 81.76 and 78.66. The four values exceeded the national standard (IKLH, Indeks Kesehatan Lingkungan Hidup) in 2017, i.e. 66.46. It indicates that the ecosystem quality of these four regencies is generally professionally managed. Meanwhile, Pandeglang Regency shows the number of 65.22, which is below the national standard of IKLH.