ANALYSIS OF KARST ROCK DESERTIFICATION IN THE TROPICAL KARST REGION OF GUNUNG SEWU, TEPUS, GUNUNGKIDUL

Fathi Muzaqi, Pipit Wijayanti

Abstract

This study investigates the spatial dynamics of Karst Rock Desertification in the tropical karst region of Tepus District, Gunungkidul Regency, using Sentinel-2A imagery and remote sensing indices including NDVI, NDRI, FVC, and Fr. Although various studies have examined KRD in different karst regions using NDVI or NDRI individually, few have integrated multiple indices to capture both vegetation degradation and rock exposure simultaneously. Moreover, most previous studies rely on medium-resolution imagery like Landsat, which limits spatial detail, and rarely focus on the tropical karst of Indonesia. KRD, characterized by soil degradation and vegetation loss in karst landscapes, poses significant ecological threats due to its rapid and often irreversible impacts. The research employed a quantitative descriptive method combined with spatial-temporal analysis using Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS to assess land cover changes between 2019 and 2024. The analysis focused on identifying rock desertification by utilizing NDVI with FVC and the NDRI with FR. Field observations validated these findings, showing clear distinctions in soil depth and vegetation between degradation levels. The results showed significant changes in vegetation cover and rock exposure between 2019 and 2024. The Non-Rocky Desertification area decreased from 25.65% to 9.39%, while the Potential Rocky Desertification zone increased from 73.75% to 90.12%. In terms of vegetation, the “Nothing” category rose from 6.42% to 2.51%, while Moderate vegetation cover declined from 23.20% to 23.51%, and Extremely Severe decreased from 9.68% to 19.11%. These findings indicate that approximately 40% of the study area is now affected by moderate to severe desertification, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation and sustainable land management. The study highlights the critical role of vegetation management and sustainable land use to curb the advancement of desertification. These findings contribute to understanding karst ecosystem vulnerability and inform future ecological restoration strategies.

Keywords

Karst Rock Desertification; Remote Sensing; Vegetation Index; Rock Index; Gunungkidul

Full Text:

PDF

References

Al Khoury, I., Boithias, L., Bailey, R. T., Ollivier, C., Sivelle, V., & Labat, D. (2023). Impact of land-use change on karst spring response by integration of surface processes in karst hydrology: The ISPEEKH model. Journal of Hydrology, 626, 130300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.130300

Anggoro, D., & Budiyanto, E. (2018). PEMANFAATAN CITRA LANDSAT 8 OLI UNTUK ANALISIS DESERTIFIKASI BATUAN KARST GUNUNG SEWU BAGIAN TIMUR DI KECAMATAN PONJONG, GUNUNG KIDUL.

Ao, L., Wu, Y., Xu, Q., Zhou, Y., Chen, X., Liang, P., … Chen, H. (2025). The Role of Bedrock Topography in the Runoff Process and Soil Erosion on Karst Steep Slopes. Land Degradation & Development, 36(2), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5377

Budiyanto, E. (2014). Prosiding Pertemuan Imiah Tahunan (PIT) Ikatan Geograf Indonesia-2014.

Cahyanti, P. A. B., & Agus, C. (2017). Development of Landscape Architecture through Geo-eco-tourism in Tropical Karst Area to Avoid Extractive Cement Industry for Dignified and Sustainable Environment and Life. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 83, 012028. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/83/1/012028

Cai, J., Yu, W., Fang, Q., Zi, R., Fang, F., & Zhao, L. (2023). Extraction of Rocky Desertification Information in the Karst Area Based on the Red-NIR-SWIR Spectral Feature Space. Remote Sensing, 15(12), 3056. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15123056

Cao, D., & Wen, S. (2024a). Dynamic Change and Attribution Regarding Fractional Vegetation Coverage in Mengdong River Basin. Forests, 15(5), 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050746

Cao, D., & Wen, S. (2024b). Dynamic Change and Attribution Regarding Fractional Vegetation Coverage in Mengdong River Basin. Forests, 15(5), 746. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050746

D’Ettorre, U. S., Liso, I. S., Pisano, L., Zumpano, V., & Parise, M. (2023, May 15). Degradation and loss of soil in karst terrains. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-5640

Do Nascimento, E. R., Sessegolo, G. C., Berra, E. F., Da Silveira, C. T., & Sampaio, T. V. M. (2024). A MINERAÇÃO EM ROCHAS CARBONÁTICAS NA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DE CURITIBA- PR: DESAFIOS PARA A PRESERVAÇÃO DO PATRIMÔNIO CÁRSTICO E ESPELEOLÓGICO. RAEGA - O Espaço Geográfico Em Análise, 59, 43. https://doi.org/10.5380/raega.v59i0.93178

Goldscheider, N., Chen, Z., Auler, A. S., Bakalowicz, M., Broda, S., Drew, D., … Veni, G. (2020). Global distribution of carbonate rocks and karst water resources. Hydrogeology Journal, 28(5), 1661–1677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02139-5

Haryono, E., Adji, T. N., Cahyadi, A., Widyastuti, M., Listyaningsih, U., & Sulistyowati, E. (2022). Groundwater and livelihood in Gunungsewu karst area, Indonesia. In Groundwater for Sustainable Livelihoods and Equitable Growth (pp. 1–23). London: CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003024101-1

Hou, W., & Gao, J. (2020). Spatially Variable Relationships between Karst Landscape Pattern and Vegetation Activities. Remote Sensing, 12(7), 1134. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12071134

Kang, Y., Shen, L., Li, C., Huang, Y., & Chen, L. (2024). Effects of vegetation degradation on soil microbial communities and ecosystem multifunctionality in a karst region, southwest China. Journal of Environmental Management, 363, 121395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121395

Liu, J., Zhou, G. Q., Jia, B., Yue, T., & Peng, X. Y. (2020a). KARST ROCKY DESERTIFICATION ANALYSIS BASED ON HISTORICAL DISP DATA TAKE TWO REGIONS FOR EXAMPLE. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLII-3/W10, 871–874. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-3-W10-871-2020

Liu, J., Zhou, G. Q., Jia, B., Yue, T., & Peng, X. Y. (2020b). KARST ROCKY DESERTIFICATION ANALYSIS BASED ON HISTORICAL DISP DATA TAKE TWO REGIONS FOR EXAMPLE. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLII-3/W10, 871–874. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-3-W10-871-2020

Lu, Xian-jian, Guo, Z., Yan, H., & Zhang, H. (2023). Rocky Desertification Feature Extraction and Spatio-temporal Evolution Analysis based on Decision Tree. 2023 8th International Conference on Communication, Image and Signal Processing (CCISP), 58–64. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CCISP59915.2023.10355793

Lu, Xiaxia, Sheng, M., & Luo, M. (2024a). Knowledge Mapping Analysis of Karst Rocky Desertification Vegetation Restoration in Southwest China: A Study Based on Web of Science Literature. Agronomy, 14(10), 2235. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102235

Lu, Xiaxia, Sheng, M., & Luo, M. (2024b). Knowledge Mapping Analysis of Karst Rocky Desertification Vegetation Restoration in Southwest China: A Study Based on Web of Science Literature. Agronomy, 14(10), 2235. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102235

Mandal, D., & Roy, T. (2024). Climate Change Impact on Soil Erosion and Land Degradation. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7935-6_5

Niu, L., Zhang, Z., Liang, Y., & Huang, Y. (2022). Assessing the Impact of Urbanization and Eco-Environmental Quality on Regional Carbon Storage: A Multiscale Spatio-Temporal Analysis Framework. Remote Sensing, 14(16), 4007. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14164007

Palacios-Cabrera, T., Valdes-Abellan, J., Jodar-Abellan, A., & Rodrigo-Comino, J. (2022). Land-use changes and precipitation cycles to understand hydrodynamic responses in semiarid Mediterranean karstic watersheds. Science of The Total Environment, 819, 153182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153182

Putra, R. D., Adji, T. N., & Haryono, E. (2025). Karst rocky desertification delineation and estimation of potential soil loss in tropical karst cockpits. Kuwait Journal of Science, 52(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjs.2025.100422

Qian, C., Qiang, H., Qin, C., Wang, Z., & Li, M. (2022a). Spatiotemporal Evolution Analysis and Future Scenario Prediction of Rocky Desertification in a Subtropical Karst Region. Remote Sensing, 14(2), 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14020292

Qian, C., Qiang, H., Qin, C., Wang, Z., & Li, M. (2022b). Spatiotemporal Evolution Analysis and Future Scenario Prediction of Rocky Desertification in a Subtropical Karst Region. Remote Sensing, 14(2), 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14020292

Qian, C., Qiang, H., Qin, C., Wang, Z., & Li, M. (2022c). Spatiotemporal Evolution Analysis and Future Scenario Prediction of Rocky Desertification in a Subtropical Karst Region. Remote Sensing, 14(2), 292. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14020292

Reinhart, H., Putra, R. D., & Rafida, M. R. (2023). Karst ecosystem services and their roles in the management of Gunung Sewu UNESCO global geopark. Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 7(3), 220–233. https://doi.org/10.22515/sustinere.jes.v7i3.349

Stevanović, Z. (2018). Global distribution and use of water from karst aquifers. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 466(1), 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP466.17

Sunkar, A. (2008). Deforestation And Rocky Desertification Processes In Gunung Sewu Karst Landscape (Vol. 13).

Taminskas, J., Paskauskas, R., Zvikas, A., & Satkunas, J. (2006). Karst and Ecosystems. In Geology and Ecosystems (pp. 61–76). Boston, MA: Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-29293-4_6

Xiong, Y. J., Qiu, G. Y., Mo, D. K., Lin, H., Sun, H., Wang, Q. X., … Yin, J. (2009). Rocky desertification and its causes in karst areas: a case study in Yongshun County, Hunan Province, China. Environmental Geology, 57(7), 1481–1488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1425-7

Yue, X., Lu, H., Pan, X., & Zeng, J. (2024, October 21). Spatiotemporal Variation of Vegetation Coverage and Its Driver in a Typical Karst Rocky Desertification Area in Southwest China. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1575.v1

Zhang, S., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Wu, Y., Li, C., Zhang, C., & Yin, Y. (2022). Ecological Quality Evolution and Its Driving Factors in Yunnan Karst Rocky Desertification Areas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416904

Zhou, Y., & Chen, Q. (2025). RETRACTED: Evolution of karst rocky desertification and its response to land use changes in different geomorphologic environments. Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, 48(1_suppl), 573–589. https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-241536

Zucca, C., Fleiner, R., Bonaiuti, E., & Kang, U. (2022). Land degradation drivers of anthropogenic sand and dust storms. CATENA, 219, 106575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106575

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/ge.v11i2.102418

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.