34 Agroland : The Agriculture Science Journal, 2019 June 6 (1) 34 - 43 ISSN : 2407 – 7585 E-ISSN : 2407 – 7593 LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE UPPER WATERSHED OF PALU (Case Study of Miu Sub Watershed in Sigi Regency) 1) Danang Widjajanto, 1) Uswah Hasanah 1) Agriculture Faculty-Tadulako University, E-mail : d_widjajanto@yahoo.co.id, uswahmughni@yahoo.co.id ABSTRACT Population growth and regional expansion has increased land needs for settlement, agriculture, and trade in the Palu watershed causing much pressure on the upper part of the watershed where Miu watershed is situated The general aim of the research was to generate strategy for sustainable land resources management in the Miu watershed as a buffer zone of the Lore-Lindu National Park. The objective of the research were 1) to predict soil erosion and sedimentation, 2) to analyze the feasibility of dominant farming systems, 3) to analyze rural development, and 4) to analyze community preference on land use priority. The erosion and sedimentation, and feasibility research was conducted through soil survey and socio-economic approach. The rural development index was determined using secondary data taken from related institution such as demography, regional structure and infra structure, and industrial-trade condition. The preferential analysis of land use priority for 10 years ahead was done using focus group discussion with farmer community leaders. The soil erosion rate was light - heavy whilst the soil erosion index was low - very high estimated by the USLE. The relationship between the river debit and suspended load at the upper and lower part of the watershed was found to follow the equation of Y= 0.001X 1.366 (R 2 = 0.65), and Y = 0.001 X 1.409 (R 2 = 0.66), respectively. Three villages included Pakuli, Pandere, and Bolapapu had high index of rural development whereas low index was found in Lonca, Bangga and Tangkulowi. The high-low order of land use priority was agro forestry, cacao monoculture, fresh water fishery, wetland rice, ruminant grazing, mixed culture of rice, soy bean, cassava and maize, and poultry farming. Keywords: Buffer zone, Erosion, Land use, Watershed management, The Lore-Lindu National Park. INTRODUCTION Palu watershed is one of the super priority watersheds in Indonesia. The utilization of this region for providing resources such as land, food, water, energy, esthetics, and germplasm is considerably important for the people in Palu valley. Population growth rate of 2.7% year -1 (BPS, 2009) and regional expansion has increased land needs for settlement, agriculture, and trade in lower part of Palu watershed. This situation has put much pressure on the upper part of the watershed where Miu watershed is situated. The watershed of Miu covers an area of about 65,000 ha and has an important role as a buffer zone for the Lore- Lindu National Park. Forest conversion into cacao plantation in the last three decades has caused wide land degradation in this area as indicated by highly differences in river debit flows between dry and rainy seasons (LESATI, 2010). The use of conventional cultivation technology for establishing the cacao plantation and maize/cassava has lead to high soil erosion. Long term soil damage will decrease farmer’s income due to low cacao and maize/cassava production and change the