Land cover change is a critical issue that drives ecological and social crises, including the increasing occurrence of human–wildlife conflict. This study aims to analyze land cover change and its impacts on the spatial distribution of long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) conflicts in Jepitu Village, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A mixed-methods approach with a descriptive–exploratory design was employed over a ten-month period beginning in August 2024. Quantitative analysis utilized Landsat imagery from 1995 to 2024, classified according to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 8033:2014) using supervised classification with the maximum likelihood algorithm, and evaluated using a confusion matrix and the kappa coefficient. Qualitative data were collected through field observations and in-depth interviews with local communities and relevant stakeholders. The results indicate that the study area is predominantly characterized by agricultural land and forest cover, with fluctuations influenced by the geographical characteristics of the Gunungsewu Karst region and local land-use dynamics. In 2024, increased land clearing associated with tourism infrastructure development led to a reduction in agricultural and forest areas and a consistent expansion of built-up land. These land cover changes align with the intensification of coastal development in Gunungkidul as a tourism destination and contribute to an increased frequency of long-tailed macaque conflicts, resulting in agricultural damage, economic losses, and negative community perceptions. Therefore, integrated landscape management and habitat conservation are essential strategies to mitigate conflict and ensure ecosystem sustainability in the Gunungsewu Karst region.