<![CDATA[Deforestation in the inland regions of West Sulawesi has been increasing alongside the expansion of patchouli plantations and the high dependence of the patchouli oil distillation industry on fuelwood. This study aims to analyze changes in vegetation cover, identify the spatial distribution and hotspots of deforestation, and delineate deforestation-prone zones associated with patchouli plantation and distillation activities in Mamasa Regency. The analysis employed a spatial approach based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), utilizing the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from Sentinel-2 imagery for 2018 and 2025, vegetation change analysis (ΔNDVI), and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to identify deforestation hotspots. The results indicate that dense vegetation cover has experienced a significant reduction and spatial fragmentation, particularly in areas with high accessibility. Deforestation is concentrated in the central and eastern parts of Mamasa Regency and shows a strong spatial association with patchouli plantation and distillation locations. The highest deforestation intensity occurred during the 2021–2022 period, coinciding with increased patchouli oil prices that stimulated large-scale land clearing. High to very high deforestation-prone zones are generally located around patchouli distillation sites and areas subjected to intensive land use pressure. Based on IFAS and EFAS analyses, deforestation mitigation strategies should focus on transitioning to renewable energy, agroforestry-based commodity diversification, strengthening forest governance, and rehabilitating degraded areas to support sustainable forest management. Keywords: deforestation, fuelwood, patchouli, SWOT analysis, West Sulawesi]]>
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