Land Use Planning of Ex- Nickel Mining for Support Regional Development in East Halmahera Regency

Abstract

Regional development is applied through the optimization of utilization available resources in harmony and integrated through comprehensive approach. To achieve optimal results in the regional development, it requires a spatial planning, namely a process starting from preparation of spatial plan to allocate natural resources and artificial resources optimally. East Halmahera is one of the regency in North Maluku Province with great potential of mineral resources, namely nickel. However, the available mineral resources have not provided a significant impact on community living environment. The utilization of natural resources becomes one of the goals by the government of East Halmahera Regency to improve the regional economy. Management of natural resources (mining nickel) has been started before this region expanded, precisely in 1997 when exploitation of nickel mine conducted by PT. Aneka Tambang (Persero) Tbk. Since that, vegetation of land use/cover decreases with the mining activities and agricultural production of each sub-district is disturbed. Mining activities could have an impact to environment such as vegetation changes, topography disturbed, and others. Around mining areas endangered, if not reclaimed. In 2012 the local government has issued the lisence of mining as many as 44, namely 12 in the exploitation stage, and 32 in exploration stage. This research aims to utilize ex-nickel mining land for support regional growth. Several analytical approaches are implemented such as: analysis and prediction of land use/cover changes; evaluation of regional growth rate of GDP data and identification of leading commodity of each sub-district; make direction land use planning of ex-nickel mining. The land use/cover was generated trough utilizing of Landsat ETM-7 (medium resolution). Land use/cover changes were analyzed using the transition matrix. Land use/cover simulation used Marcov Chain model to predict land use/cover based on estimate year. Trends of regional growth were analysed using two paramaters, namely GDP and leading commodity (amount of agricultural production). GDP was utilized to view the regional economic growth every year, period of 2000-2010. Location Quotient (LQ), Localization Index (Li), and Specialization Index (Si) were used to find out leading commodity of each sub-district. Direction of ex-nickel mining land is based on the synthesis from the purpose 1 and 2 considering the spatial function of East Halmahera Regency. The data of land use/cover types of mine openings and settlement had increased area since 2004-2012. Forest types, mixed farms, paddy field, and moor/bush/shrub had decreased area due to be converted into mine openings and settlement. The simulate of land use/cover in 2020 illustrated the extending of mine openings and settlement, that concentrated in the central part of the administrative area in East Halmahera Regency, namely Wasile sub-district, South Wasile sub-district, Maba sub-district, and Maba city sub-district. The types of land use/cover of forest, mixed garden, paddy fields, and moor/bush/shrub has decreased in the area. The trend of regional economic growth has been rising from year to year. The average increased 0.8% since 2000-2010, but the increase was fairly low, so it could not have contributed to regional growth. Potential of base commodity for paddy field was indicated in Wasile sub-district, East Wasile sub-district, and Middle Wasile sub-district. Secondary crops was indicated in South Wasile sub-district, whereas vegetables was Wasile sub-district and East Wasile sub-district. Fruits was indicated in South Wasile sub-district, and plantations was indicated South Maba sub-district and Maba sub-district. In addition to the potential of the fisheries sector was indicated at South Maba sub-district and North Maba sub-district. Regional economic growth and base commodity in every sub-district had not been developing, so it would need a direction for land use planning of ex-nickel mining appropriate to the spatial function, namely food crops, smallholder plantation, community plantation forests, and forest. Direction of land use planning of ex-nickel mining was controlled by base commodity potential and the result of land use/cover changes analysis accordance to the spatial function. Sub-districts having food crops base commodity potential located in non forest region (Area Penggunaan Lain), is directed to the development of food crops utilizing ex-nickel mining area. Sub-district that having base commodity of plantation will be utilized for development of smallholder accordance spatial zonation, namely located at area other uses and forest plantation which is the Limited Production Forest. Mean while the license of nickel mining that located in the Protected Forest will be returned to it original plan forest, likewise the Ake Tajawe Lolobata National Park.