Article Land Cover Change and Food Security in Central Sumba: Chal- lenge and Opportunity in the Decentralization Era in Indonesia Yohanis Ngongo 1 *, Bernard deRosari 2 , Tony Basuki 3 , Gerson N. Njurumana 1 , Yudistira Nugraha 3 , Alfonsus Hasu- dungan Harianja 2 , Muhammad Ardha 4 , Kustiyo 4 , Rizatus Shofiyati 5 , R. Bambang Heryanto 5 , ,Jefny B. Markus Rawung 6 , Joula Olvy Maya Sondakh 7 , Rein E.Senewe 6 , Helena da Silva 7 , Ronald T. P. Hutapea 7 , Procula R. Mattita- putty 8 , Yosua Pieter Kenduballa, Noldy R.E Kotta 3 , Yohanes Leki Seran 2 , Debora Kana Hau 8 , Dian Oktaviani 1 , Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi Nugroho 1 1 Research Center for Ecology and Ethno-biology, National Research and Innovation Agency yoha018@brin.go.id; gers001@brin.go.id; dian086@brin.go.id; hung001@brin.go.id. 2 Research Center for behavioral and circular economy, National Research and Innovation Agency, bern008@brin.go.id; alfonsus.h.harianja@brin.go.id; yoha017@brin.go.id; 3 Research Center for Food Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency, tony.basuki@brin.go.id; yudhi018@brin.go.id; nold001@brin.go.id 4 Research Center of Remote Sensing, National Research and Innovation Agency; mohamad.ardha@brin.go.id ; kust002@brin.go.id 5 Research Center of Geospacial, National Research and Innovation Agency, rbam003@brin.go.id; rizatus.sho- fiyati@brin.go.id 6 Research Center of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, National Research and Innovation Agency; jbmarkusrawung2000@yahoo.com; rein001@brin.go.id 7 Research Center for Macro Economic and Financial, National Research and Innovation Agency; joul001@brin.go.id; hele005@brin.go.id; rona006@brin.go.id 8 Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency; proc001@brin.go.id; debo002@brin.go.id; 9 Research and Development Planning Board of Central Suma District; compiteryosua2203@gmail.com * Correspondence: yoha018@brin.go.id/yohanisngongo@gmail.com; Tel.: (+ 62 81 353293979) Abstract: This study focuses on land cover and land management changes in relation to food security and environmental services in a semi-arid area of East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) – Indonesia. The study was conducted in Central Sumba District of ENT Province. Classification and regression tree (CART) for land cover classification has been analyzed using machine learning techniques using Google Earth Engine. A survey with Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and followed with in-depth interviews were conducted for primary data collection involving a total of 871 respondents. The Socio-economic data analyzed statistics descriptively and non-parametric tests. The study showed that: 1). There has been a substantial land use change during the devolution era that has both positive and negative implications for food security and environmental services. 2). There has been population pressure in the fertile or agricultural land as the direct impact of the development of city infrastructures; and 3). National intervention through the Food Estate program has fostered and shaped land use change and land management in Central Sumba District. The study highlights the importance that the devolution spirit should help to well manage the limited arable/agricultural land in dominated semi-arid to ensure food security and environment services. Keywords: devolution; land cover change; semi-arid; food security; arable land; conservation; en- vironment services Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions, or products referred to in the content. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 28 February 2023 doi:10.20944/preprints202302.0493.v1 © 2023 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license.