Unraveling the Contradictions of Conservation Land: Mapping High Flood Risk in the Buffer Zone of Merubetiri National Park (Case Study: Curahnongko Village)

Abstract

Floods are hydrometeorological disasters that often hit various regions in Indonesia  especially in low-lying areas, river basins, and areas with limited vegetation cover. Curahnongko Village is one of the areas vulnerable to flooding. This village is not supposed to have a high risk of flooding, as the area is a part of the Merubetiri National Park or a conservation area that is expected to have sufficient absorption capacity.  In December 2024, floods inundated 400 households in Curahnongko Village. This research reveals the actual flood hazard vulnerability using the Weighted Overlay method. This research uses Google Earth Engine (GEE) to help process the flood modeling with several variable indicators such as land distance from water bodies, topographic position, elevation, vegetation index, and humidity index. The results of this study reveal that Curahnongko Village is dominated by the Medium risk category of 62.97% (6,467 ha) and the High risk category of 29.31% (3,011 ha). The mapping results also reveal that areas with low elevation levels, close proximity to water bodies, and low vegetation are more vulnerable to flood hazards. This research is expected to support decision-making for planning in areas that have a higher level of hazard in Curahnongko Village, Jember Regency.