Identification of land use change pattern and processes using fragmentation analysis in peri-urban area of Makassar of South Sulawesi Province

Abstract

Peri-urban area hosts resources and environment to support essential ecosystem functions for urban settlements. Growing number of urban residents trigger increasing need of land use conversion for settlements, industries, and businesses. Generally, population growth rate in peri-urban regions is higher than on urban, including in Makassar hading to a land use change vast and dynamic. Pattern and process of land use change in Peri-urban area of Makassar city were analyzed using transition and fragmentation analysis where as actor of the land use change was presented based on semi structured interview. The results of transition matrix analysis presented information regarding land use change pattern. Makassar experienced rapid land use change, for example from rice fields, ponds, and swamps were converted to upland crops and eventually converted to settlements, industries, and businesses. Rice fields to settlements or industries conversion process occurred through land draining and land filling. Land use change was usually preceded by transfer of land ownership. It frequently happened due to government policy and socio-economic condition of the society. Fragmentation analyses of land use were conducted on land use for settlements, industries, and businesses as the major land use pattern in urban areas. The results indicated that Peri-urban of Makassar were very dynamic, not only in spatial perspective but also in terms of complex processes. Fragmentation types such as core, edge, and patch contributed to urban sprawl. Fragmentation process of land use was characterized by perforated type. The decline of patch value could be interpreted as an indication of land agglomeration. Land use change occurred in Peri-urban of Makassar was done by landowners in a variety of ethnicity/race and education levels. It should be mentioned here that construction of public services by the government also contributed to this land use change and its fragmentation.