Heni Masruroh, Alfi Sahrina, Samsuri, Syamsu Rijal, Kresno Sastro Bangun Utomo, Muhammad Prima Pratama, Zafira Fatimah Azzahra, Imelda Nasywa Zaidan, Aqil Tariq
Uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources as human needs increase over time triggers an ecological environment increasingly vulnerable. Spatial evaluation of ecological vulnerability is an effort to reduce the adverse impacts of internal and external disturbances on the ecosystem. We present a comprehensive and systematic evaluation system and analysis method. The Mondangan Watershed is located in Wonosari Sub-village, Tugurejo Village, Wates District, Blitar Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The Mondangan watershed represents a complex coastal ecosystem of natural and secondary forests associated with anthropogenic disturbances such as agricultural activities and constructing a new national road. Based on the ecological vulnerability framework such as sensitivity-resilience-pressure (SRP), 15 relevant indicators were selected. Their weighting was carried out using a hybrid method with high objectivity in building a spatial model of ecological vulnerability. Fuzzy evaluation is used to represent indicator data realistically and mapped to calculate the ecological vulnerability index (EVI) evaluation score. Spatial autocorrelation analysis is carried out to obtain a clear spatially aggregated ecological vulnerability map. Finally, the ecological vulnerability map under the control of the weighting coefficient is carried out based on the ordered weighting average (OWA) operator. The results show that the ecological vulnerability of the Mondangan Watershed shows a high class in the upstream to the east and a low class in the middle and extends to the south. There is a clear spatial aggregation effect. The high-high spatial aggregation zone is distributed upstream and extends to the east and south, while the low-low aggregation is in the middle area and extends to the west and south. NPP (net primary production), soil erosion, annual precipitation, and NTL (nighttime light) have the highest contribution rates to the EVI model. The increase in the weighting coefficient represents the gradual increase in the ecological vulnerability of the Mondangan Watershed. The findings of this study provide an initial reference in socio-economic development and ecological protection to achieve sustainable development in the Mondangan Watershed. The EVI assessment framework in this study offers reference value, especially for studies in small area coverage with coastal characteristics. © King Abdulaziz University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
Geography Department, Faculty of Social Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang City, Indonesia; Center for Environment and Disaster Mitigation, Research Institute and Community Engagement, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia; Forestry Faculty, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia; Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanudin, Makassar, Indonesia; Student Geography Department, Faculty of Social Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang City, Indonesia; Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, MS, 39762-9690, United States
