Land Use/Land Cover Change Detection in an Urban Watershed: A Case Study of Upper Citarum Watershed, West Java Province, Indonesia

Upper Citarum Watershed is critically threatened by LULCC especially due to rapid urbanization, forest conversion and agricultural expansion. Such changes have degraded the watershed and significantly impacted on the water quality in the upper Citarum River. In order to prevent such degradation, periodic LULCC monitoring is paramount. This study employed GIS and RS techniques to detect LULCC in Upper Citarum Watershed between 1997 and 2014. The results revealed a significant change in the proportions of the various LULC types of the study area from the year 1997 to 2014. Forest decreased by 41% between 1997 and 2005, and by 35% between 2005 and 2014. In the same time period, agricultural land increased by 8% and 2% from 1997 to 2005 and from 2005 to 2014 respectively. On the other hand built-up increased by 100% between 1997 and 2005, and by 65% between 2005 and 2014. Bare land increased by 56% between 1997 and 2005 but declined by 15% between 2005 and 2014. Bush land cover decreased by 14% between 1997 and 2005 and by 4% between 2005 and 2014. Water body decreased by 12% between 1997 and 2005, and 10% between 2005 and 2014. The study revealed that rapid urbanization was the change initiator and the major force driving LULCC in Upper Citarum Watershed.