Groundwater Resource Potential in Table Mountain Forest, Manokwari, West Papua: A Hydrogeological Review for Conservation

This study evaluates the groundwater resource potential in Table Mountain Forest, Manokwari, West Papua, through comprehensive hydrogeological analysis for conservation planning. The 462-hectare protected forest area contains 44 active springs within a karst aquifer system that supplies 10.30% of Manokwari's municipal water demand. Using a systematic literature review methodology integrating geological, climatological, and ecological data from 2015 to 2024, this research employed multi-criteria analysis weighting geological factors (40%), climatological conditions (30%), topographical features (20%), vegetation cover (10%) and geoelectric surveys to assess groundwater potential. The application of the multi-criteria analysis framework produced a groundwater potential map of Table Mount as a high potential area zone. The geoelectric surveys identified shallow unconfined aquifers at 0.854-4.36 m depth with optimal conditions in survey lines 1, 2, and 5. The bedrock typically begins at a depth of approximately 6-9 m with resistivity values exceeding 13,000 flm, indicating an impermeable basement rock that prevents deeper groundwater circulation. However, developmental pressures present significant conservation challenges. The study recommends ecosystem-based management with three conservation zones: core (300 ha), buffer (100 ha), and transition (62 ha), alongside monitoring networks, 50-meter spring protection buffers, and climate adaptation strategies.