Land use and cover changes in a hilly area of South Sumatra, Indonesia (from 1970 to 1990)

We monitored the land use changes in a hilly area of West Lampung, South Sumatra, Indonesia, from 1970 to 1990, The main data sources were the land use maps produced in 1970, 1978, 1984, and 1990 covering on area of 27 km(2). The area was divided into 108 X 108 cell squares (0.25 km X 0.25 km) and the largest land use form in the respective squares were mapped using a computer program, Fifty-seven percent of the study site was covered with primary forests in 1970, against 13% in 1990, Areas under plantation which were not recorded in 1970, increased to 60% in 1990, In addition, the change from monoculture plantations (mostly coffee plantation) to mixed plantations was noticeable from 1984 to 1990, Total upland area including upland area under shifting cultivation and upland fields with crops and vegetables only with fruit trees decreased from 21% in 1970 to 0.1% in 1990, clearly suggesting the establishment of plantation agriculture, mainly coffee plantations, in the hilly areas, and the transfer of areas for crop and vegetable production to the middle terraces in Lampung Province, In large areas land-use had changed from some forms to others at intervals of 6-8 y in the study site. Transmigration and resultant impact of increasing population were the major driving forces in land use changes.