Analysis of land cover changes within the working area of nagari forest: a case of Nagari Sungai Buluah Timur, Padang Pariaman District, West Sumatra

Nagari forest is a social forestry scheme adopted in West Sumatra province to ensure the rights of the community to manage and ensure sustainable management of state forests. Analysis of changes in land cover can be an interesting study to identify the pattern of land use by the community after given the right to manage (permit). This study aims to analyze the change of land cover on the working area of nagari forest in Nagari Sungai Buluah Timur, Padang Pariaman district. The method used was spatial land cover analysis based on land cover data of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2013 and 2017 validated with land cover data from Google Earth in 2014 and 2018. Field observations and interviews were also conducted to strengthen the analysis of the causes of the change. Based on the results of the analysis, land cover changes occur due to increased community agricultural cultivation activities after obtaining the right to manage. Changes occur from primary dryland forest and dryland farming to shrubs. Based on Google Earth interpretation, shrub cover also turns into dryland farming.