THE CONSERVATION INDEX AS A CONTROL INSTRUMENT OF SPACE UTILIZATION IN THE UPPER CIKAPUNDUNG WATERSHED OF INDONESIA

The development of settlements north of Bandung City in Indonesia is changing the upstream Cikapundung Watershed. Construction in the Cikapundung Watershed between 1997 and 2011 was 50.58 ha/year and the deforestation was 18.3 ha/year. The conservation index showed that the change in land use from 1997 to 2011 will made critical area increased around 62.48 ha/year. The area condition was assessed by comparing the actual conservation index (Ikc) and the natural conservation index (Ika). This indicates that there was degradation of the land's hydrological function (IKc < IKa) in the Upper Cikapundung Watershed area. In 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2011 the IKc was less than IKa forest (0.9-0.8) or IKa Hassing (0.73). To preserve the hydrological function of the Upper Cikapundung Watershed area, a linkage between space utilisation and hydrological conditions of the land is needed.