Identification of Land Cover Types and Their Changes in Kutalimbaru Sub-district, Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

In recent years, land cover changes in Deli Serdang District, North Sumatra Province, have become a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. This study aims to determine the type of land cover that has changed over a ten-year period that occurred in the Kutalimbaru Sub-district. Kutalimbaru Sub-district is upstream of the Belawan Watershed. The method used in this study is a change detection method using a geographic information system (GIS). The results showed ten types of land cover in the Kutalimbaru District: dryland forest, paddy field, mixed garden, open land, oil palm plantation, rubber plantation, settlement, shrubs, water body, and industry. Land cover in Kutalimbaru Sub-district in 2019 was dominated by mixed gardens (39.51), followed by oil palm plantations 23.13% and dryland forests 12.58%. Over ten years, there was a change in land cover from dry land forest to the mixed garden (14.42 ha) and open land (9.22 ha). A significant change occurred in land cover from mixed garden to oil palm plantation (1,783.41%) and to open land (1,178.37 ha). In addition, a change in land cover from mixed garden to settlement (154.99 ha) also occurred in this area.