North Luwu District is located in the northern part of South Sulawesi Province and is the largest district in this province with total area of 7,423.01 km2, which is 16.39% of the total area of South Sulawesi Province (RTRW; Perda No. 1 RTRW Luwu Utara). The North Luwu District is divided into 15 subdistricts with the capital in Masamba, 440 km from Makassar.
North Luwu is a region characterized by diverse and dynamic environmental landscapes with a total area of about 742,301.45 hectares. From the mountains and rainforests to fertile plains and coastal mangroves, the region boasts an array of ecosystems with a current forest extent of about 406,919 hectares (more than 50% out of the total area) that are constantly evolving and adapting to natural and human-induced pressures. The majority of the North Luwu land use consisted of agricultural land such as cocoa plantation, ricefield, and oil palm plantations. Deforestation has significantly impacted the areas with a deforestation rate of about 500 hectares per year, particularly within the surrounding protected areas. These forests act as vital carbon sinks, biodiversity havens, and provide essential services like water regulation and soil conservation.
Local communities in North Luwu depend heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods, engaging in cultivation, fishing, and forest-based activities. North Luwu's ecological, market, and social values are intricately intertwined. Recognizing and balancing these values is essential for charting a course towards a sustainable future. By fostering collaboration, implementing innovative solutions, and embracing sustainable practices, North Luwu can ensure a thriving future for generations to come.
According to RTRW 2023-2042 (Perda Kab Luwu Utara No. 1 Tahun 2023), 70.64% of North Luwu District is designated as forest area (491,600.73 ha). The forest area is divided into Conservation Forest/National Park (100.05; 0.01%), protected forest (44.61%; 331,176.31 ha), production forest (21.55%;159,998.24 ha), and mangrove (3226.13 ha;0.04%). In 2014, the Ministry of Forestry issued Ministerial Decree Number SK.4810/Menhut-VII /KUH/2014, stated that the forest area in North Luwu District is 63.28% of North Luwu District which is 474,794.56 ha. The forest area is divided into protected forest area (44%; 333,400.56 ha) and production forest (18.85%; 141,394.00 ha) of the total administrative area.
North Luwu harbors a rich tapestry of biodiversity, with numerous endemic and endangered species, ranging from 420 to 510 species. Seko and Rongkong Subdistrict in North Luwu are part of Quarles Mountain range. The Quarles Mountain range lie across South and West Sulawesi Province is where the Gandang Dewata Mountain, one of the tallest mountains in Sulawesi, is located. The Gandang Dewata Mountain in Mamasa District in West Sulawesi Province was declared as national park in April 2017. This landscape has high biodiversity: at least 179 flora species, both protected and those classified as Data Deficient (DD), 15 amphibian and reptile species, 54 bird species, 13 small mammals, in particular small rodents including several endemic mountain species such as tikus ompong (Paucidentomys vermidax), tikus air Sulawesi (Walomys mamasae), dan tikus akar (Gracilimus radix).
The national park is also home to several protected and Sulawesi’s endemic species such as knobbed hornbill / julang Sulawesi (Rhyticeros cassidix), lesser streaked honeyeater / burung cikrak Sulawesi (Myza celebensis), Sulawesi fantail / burung kipasan Sulawesi (Rhipidura teysmanni), lowland anoa /anoa dataran rendah (Bubalus depressicornis), and mountain anoa / anoa gunung (Bubalus quarlesi).
As Seko and Rongkong subdistrict in North Luwu are part of the Quarles Mountain Range and connected to this national park, it is highly possible that the west and northern part of North Luwu District also possesses the same high value biodiversity as the national park. A joint initial survey between South Sulawesi Province’s Nature Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) and the Fauna & Flora International confirmed the possibility of high biodiversity value shared between the subdistricts and the national park.
The Quarles Mountain Range also provide the ecosystem services for the communities living in surrounding areas, such as in Limbong dan Marampa Village in Rongkong subdistrict and Tirobali, Beroppa, Hoyane, Tanamakaleang, Hono, dan Marante Villages in Seko subdistrict. Being in high altitude, the Quarles Mountain Range control the water and prevent erosion, abrasion, and sedimentation and act as catchment area for several watershed (Karama, Lariang, Salukula, Baliase, Poso, Munte, Lamasi, etc).
The Quarles Mountain Range, in particular the North Luwu Subdistrict has been nominated as High Conservation Value area by the provincial government since 2023.
Other than the Quarles Mountain Range/Gandang Dewata National Park landscape, the Environmental Office and University of Andi Jemma Palopo (Faculty of Forestry) conducted endemic Sulawesi flora inventory in Sarambu Alla Protected Forest in Kalotok Village, Sabbang Subdistrict and found 4 flora species that are endemic to Sulawesi: 1) Spesies “Iasa” (Lithocarpus celebica) (Miq.) Rehder; 2) Spesies “Aropi” (Antidesma celebicum) syn. Baccaurea javanica (blume) Mui. Arg; 3) Spesies Durian Sawerigading and Durian Baka – Baka (Durio zibethinus L), and 4) Spesies “Palauk” (Macadamia hildebrandii Steenis/ Protecaeae).
North Luwu has been exposed to various programs and activities on sustainability and landscape initiatives conducted by international and local NGOs. Below are some sustainability and landscape initiatives in the past years:
SFITAL (Sustainable Farming in Tropical Asian Landscapes) (ongoing, 2020 –2025)
Green Prosperity Project (Proyek Kemakmuran Hijau) (2015, ended)
BIOGAS Indonesia (2012-2018, ended)North Luwu District is prone to natural disaster such as earthquakes and flash floods. The active Palu Koro Fault that lie south to north of this district contribute to the earthquake that happen frequently. Hasanuddin University Disaster Study Centre published a study conducted in 2017 reporting that North Luwu District has high risk of flood since the upstream area in Masamba has degraded due to land use change for mining, logging, and oil palm.
The Environmental Protection and Management Plan (Rencana Perlindungan dan Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup/RPPLH, 2017) identified several environmental critical issues:
1. Land and forest-based issues;
a. The increase of critical land inside and outside forest area
b. The decrease of mangrove forest in Malangke, West Malangke, and Bone-bone Subdistricts
c. The decrease in vegetation/land cover inside forest area
d. The decrease of land quality due to waste
e. Illegal and legal gold mining
2. Water based issues; the increasing sedimentation rate in several main rivers
3. Coastal and sea-based issues; deforestation of mangrove along the coast of North Luwu District
The change of landscape in North Luwu Districts is mainly driven by several activities such as:
a. Fisheries; especially the fishpond aquaculture
b. Perennial crops; as the most significant driver
c. Mining; beside C type mining commodities, gold is the main potential mining commodity in North Luwu
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North Luwu District is located in the northern part of South Sulawesi Province and is the largest district in this province with total area of 7,423.01 km2, which is 16.39% of the total area of South Sulawesi Province (RTRW; Perda No. 1 RTRW Luwu Utara). The North Luwu District is divided into 15 subdistricts with the capital in Masamba, 440 km from Makassar.
North Luwu is a region characterized by diverse and dynamic environmental landscapes with a total area of about 742,301.45 hectares. From the mountains and rainforests to fertile plains and coastal mangroves, the region boasts an array of ecosystems with a current forest extent of about 406,919 hectares (more than 50% out of the total area) that are constantly evolving and adapting to natural and human-induced pressures. The majority of the North Luwu land use consisted of agricultural land such as cocoa plantation, ricefield, and oil palm plantations. Deforestation has significantly impacted the areas with a deforestation rate
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