Persidangan Kajian Bencana Banjir 2014 4‐6 April 2016, Putrajaya 1 Catchment Health and Sub-Catchment Land-use Activities as Risk Indicator for Disaster Risk Reduction: Case Study of Galas River, Kelantan A.R. Asyirah 1 *, W.R. Ismail 1 , S. Narimah 1 , Z.A. Rahaman 2 , A. Mardiana 3 , F. Widad 3 1 Geography Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA 2 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Human Sciences, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris 35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak, MALAYSIA 3 Environmental Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA * Corresponding author: asyirah@usm.my Abstract The study conducted aims to investigate the integration of land-use analysis at the catchment and sub-catchments level as disaster risk reduction indicator for physical planning of flood prone areas. This article presents the findings of catchment health analysis according to Galas River sub-catchments. Data presented in this paper are derived from water sampling conducted at 16 sites within the Galas River catchment. Land use planning maps were obtained from the Kelantan State Town and Country Planning Department and sub catchments region were added to the map for further analysis. Nitrate, ammonium and total suspended solid concentrations are used as indicators for catchment health and Galas River catchment health is mapped based on INWQS and LAWA classification. The water quality concentration are analyzed and presented in maps are compared to land use distribution. The distribution of TSS concentrations based on INWQS classifications showed that two upstream sub-catchment regions are in Class IIB to III (highest TSS) and this could be due to erosion from exposed land surface. The distribution of NH 4 N and NO 3 N concentrations showed that the upstream regions of the rivers are mostly Class I (unpolluted) and changed to Class II to III (moderately polluted to heavily contaminated) downstream. However, NO 3 N in Brooke River catchment (upstream of Galas River) is critically polluted (Class II-III) due to nutrients from vegetable farming activities in Cameron Highlands and plantations in Lojing. In conclusion, river health and land use activities at sub- catchment levels provide more relevant information for planning of flood prone areas. Keywords: Catchment Health, Sub-Catchment Analysis, Landuse Activities 1. Introduction Disasters can have adverse consequences on the environment and on ecosystem in particular, which could have immediate to long term effects on the populations especially local community whose life, health, livelihoods and wellbeing depend on a given environment or ecosystem[1][2]. On the other hand, environmental conditions themselves can be a major driver of disaster risks. Degraded ecosystems can aggravate the impact of natural hazards, for example by altering physical processes that affect the magnitude, frequency and timing of these hazards [2]. In addition, land use and land cover changes are eroding the natural buffers that protect communities from hazard risk. Therefore, the impacts of disasters, whether natural or man- made, not only affect human dimensions, but environment as well [3].These have been evidenced in Malaysia recently, in areas like Kelantan and Cameron Highland, where deforestation and uncontrolled land clearing have led to increased susceptibility to floods and landslides during heavy and prolong rainfall events; and the post flood impact on wellbeing and livelihood of the communities. Even though environmental concerns are integrated in our planning mechanisms, strategies and action plan outlined by local governments are still low at addressing ecosystem services components [4]. There is a need to mainstream ecosystem services in development planning. However, for it to be operationalized and used by decision makers for local development, would requires understanding of the implementation context for development planning and management [5][6]. Exploring the gap between the services required for disaster risk reduction (regulation of flood water flow and volume), community wellbeing (clean drinking water, groundwater storage, food security) and ecosystem management are needed to identify opportunities and alternatives for mainstreaming ecosystem services for disaster risk reduction into development policies and practice. The range of goods and other benefits that people derive from ecosystems contributes to the ability of people and their communities to withstand and recover from disasters [7]. The ecological health of rivers and streams is an important water management component. Ecosystem level processes are ideal measures of catchment health as they provide an integrated response to disturbances within the catchment area which include changes in the nutrient concentrations, quantity