DAMPAK PENEBANGAN HUTAN TERHADAP KEBERAGAMAN HAYATI, KUALITAS AIR, DAN KEHIDUPAN MASYARAKAT LOKAL DI MANGGARAI

Abstrak

Penebangan hutan di wilayah Manggarai, Nusa Tenggara Timur, telah menjadi isu lingkungan yang semakin mendesak untuk diteliti. Aktivitas ini tidak hanya mengubah struktur ekosistem hutan, tetapi juga membawa dampak serius terhadap keberlanjutan sumber daya alam dan kehidupan masyarakat di sekitarnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji dampak penebangan hutan terhadap tiga aspek utama: keberagaman hayati, kualitas air, dan kesejahteraan masyarakat lokal. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa penebangan hutan secara signifikan menurunkan tingkat keanekaragaman hayati. Hilangnya pohon-pohon besar dan semak-semak alami menyebabkan habitat berbagai spesies terganggu atau bahkan musnah, sehingga beberapa spesies endemik Manggarai terancam punah. Kerusakan ini juga berdampak langsung pada rantai makanan dan fungsi ekologis lainnya, seperti penyerbukan, penyerapan karbon, dan perlindungan tanah. Selain itu, penebangan hutan juga berdampak buruk terhadap kualitas air di daerah aliran sungai. Berkurangnya tutupan vegetasi menyebabkan peningkatan erosi tanah, sedimentasi sungai, serta berkurangnya kapasitas penyerapan dan penyimpanan air. Kondisi ini menyebabkan menurunnya ketersediaan air bersih, meningkatnya potensi banjir, dan gangguan terhadap sistem irigasi pertanian masyarakat setempat. Dalam konteks sosial-ekonomi, masyarakat lokal yang selama ini menggantungkan hidup dari hasil hutan, pertanian, dan sumber air alami mengalami penurunan kualitas hidup. Ketergantungan terhadap sumber daya alam yang rusak mendorong perubahan pola mata pencaharian, migrasi, dan munculnya konflik sosial. Oleh karena itu, upaya konservasi hutan dan pelibatan aktif masyarakat dalam pengelolaan sumber daya alam menjadi sangat penting untuk menjamin keberlanjutan lingkungan dan kesejahteraan masyarakat Manggarai.

Deforestation in the Manggarai region, East Nusa Tenggara, has become an increasingly urgent environmental issue to study. This activity not only changes the structure of the forest ecosystem, but also has serious impacts on the sustainability of natural resources and the lives of the surrounding community. This study aims to examine the impact of deforestation on three main aspects: biodiversity, water quality, and the welfare of local communities. The results of the study show that deforestation significantly reduces the level of biodiversity. The loss of large trees and natural bushes causes the habitat of various species to be disturbed or even destroyed, so that several endemic species of Manggarai are threatened with extinction. This damage also has a direct impact on the food chain and other ecological functions, such as pollination, carbon sequestration, and soil protection. In addition, deforestation also has a negative impact on water quality in river basins. Reduced vegetation cover causes increased soil erosion, river sedimentation, and reduced water absorption and storage capacity. This condition causes a decrease in the availability of clean water, increased potential for flooding, and disruption to the local community's agricultural irrigation system. In the socio-economic context, local communities that have been dependent on forest products, agriculture, and natural water sources for their livelihoods have experienced a decline in their quality of life. Dependence on damaged natural resources has led to changes in livelihood patterns, migration, and the emergence of social conflict. Therefore, forest conservation efforts and active community involvement in natural resource management are very important to ensure environmental sustainability and the welfare of the Manggarai community.