The Critical Level of Mangrove Ecosystem in Lariang Watershed Downstream, West Sulawesi-Indonesia

Critical land is a land whose soil condition has experienced or is in the process of physical, chemical, or biological damage which ultimately endangers hydrological, orological functions, and agricultural production. This research purposes were to determine the level of criticality of mangrove ecosystems, as the basis for sustainable management. Determination and delineation of the location were carried out photogrammetrically using Landsat 7 ETM + Band 542 imagery and maps, as well as terrestrial by direct measurement in the field. The species inventory and identification, tree/pole potency, saplings and seedlings used the line plot sampling and spot check methods. The results showed that the mangrove ecosystem area was of 577.07 ha, condition of dense (uncritical) vegetation reached an area of 138.16 ha (23.94%), followed by a rare (critical) condition of 286.63 ha (49.67%), while a damaged condition (very critical) 152.28 ha (26.39%). The dominant mangrove species were Sonneratia alba, Rhizophora apiculata, Avicenia marina, and Rhizophora mucronata. The main determinant of the mangrove ecosystems criticality was the mangrove cover area reduction as the non-mangrove land (ponds) impacts. To improve the quality of mangrove forest ecosystems, sustainable conservation is needed, one of which is the preparation of basic mangrove critical data and community empowerment. They are needed to restore, maintain and improve the function of forests and mangrove forest lands in order to increase their carrying capacity, productivity and their role in maintaining life support systems through rehabilitation programs.