| dc.description.abstract | The Toba highland peatland ecosystem is a unique ecosystem that is highly vulnerable to
degradation due to land cover change and increasing human pressures. This study aims to
analyze changes in highland peatland cover during the periods of 2014, 2019, and 2023, to
assess peat soil quality, and to evaluate community perceptions related to highland
peatland management in Humbang Hasundutan Regency. The research methods included
remote sensing analysis to identify land cover changes, a community perception survey
encompassing knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and actions, as well as laboratory analyses
of peat soil quality parameters, namely pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, and soil respiration.
Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA, regression analysis, and
Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Subsequently, all results were integrated using the
Multi-Criteria Policy Analysis (MULTIPOL) method to develop an integrated management
model for the highland peatland ecosystem. The results reveal significant land cover
changes from forest to open land and cultivated areas, which have led to a decline in peat
soil quality, particularly in chemical and biological parameters. Community perceptions
were generally classified as moderate, indicating a gap between knowledge and actual
practices in sustainable peatland management. The MULTIPOL model demonstrates that
evidence-based monitoring actions and adaptive management policies constitute the most
stable and cross-scenario-relevant elements. This study produces a conceptual–empirical
and adaptive management model for highland peatlands, which can serve as a scientific
basis for formulating sustainable peatland management policies in highland regions. | en_US |
