Combining Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographical Information System (GIS) for Mapping Habitat Threat of Mentilin (Cephalopachus bancanus) Norlaili Isnaini, Hero Marhaento, Sena Adi Subrata
Forest Resources Conservation Department, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Abstract
Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Gunung Menumbing is one of the protected areas in Indonesia located in Muntok, West Bangka. It has unique of plants and animals that represent the low-land forest ecosystems of Bangka-Belitung Island. However, the biodiversity is threatened due to massive destructive activities from illegal tin mining, logging, hunting, and agriculture practices such as rubber and oil palm plantations. This study aims to map the habitat threat of the western tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus), locally called mentilin, which is one of the most threatened animals in Tahura Gunung Menumbing. To achieve the study objective, this study used the combination of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The AHP analysis was carried out to determine the weight and score of selected parameters that affect to habitat suitability of mentilin and its potential threats. The data were collected from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires sent by an electronic mail to experts. In total, there were fourteen experts representing NGO in Bangka Island, ex-poacher, researchers, and governments contributed to the research. We used the Expert Choice v.11 software to analyze the AHP. Next, the results of AHP was analyzed using ArcMap v.10.4 software to produce the habitat threat map of mentilin. The results showed that according to the AHP, land cover (0,32) and canopy density (0,21) were the two main factors having the largest weight for the mentilin habitat, while the distance from the river (0,46) and distance from the road (0,19) were the two main factors having the largest weight for the mentilin threats. By overlaying the weights and scores of each contributing factor, it was revealed that 62% of the area in the Tahura Gunung Menumbing was prone to mentilin habitat. This result indicated that mentilin in the Tahura Gunung Menumbing is facing serious threats and conservation actions are are urgently needed.
Keywords: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)- Cephalopachus bancanus- Geographical Information System (GIS)- Habitat threat- Taman Hutan Raya Gunung Menumbing
Topic: Environmental Science, Technology, and Education
