Abstract
Mining activities will reduce species diversity, whereas forest reclamation would restore the species diversity, which was previously a forested area. This research was conducted in PT Bukit Asam area, in 6 locations, and in natural forest, as a comparison. The objective of this research was identifying biodiversity of plants and birds in a reclamation area which had different planting years through an approach of diversity indices of vegetation and birds (H'), index of species similarity of plants and birds, and leaf area index (LAI). Research results showed that secondary succession occurred in the reclamation area. The value of plant diversity index in reclamation area of 1995 planting year exhibited diversity values which approached that of natural forest, except for undergrowth vegetation. Index of plant species similarity between reclamation area and natural forest did not show any presence of similar communities, but the reclamation area of 1995 planting year exhibited values of plant species similarity indices at all strata, ranging from undergrowth vegetation, seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees. Index of bird diversity in reclamation area of planting the year 1998 possessed the highest value and approached that of natural forest, namely 2.43. Reclamation area of 1998 planting year possessed the highest similarity index of bird species, namely 50%. Reclamation area of the planting year 1995 possessed LAI which approached natural forest, namely 1.89. The older the planting year, the larger was the value of LAI, except for the disturbed reclamation area, namely reclamation area of 1996 planting year and reclamation area of 2001 planting year.
Highlights
Forests possess biodiversity of flora and fauna, and natural resources which are useful for all organisms
Results of the analysis show that the highest bird species Index of community similarity (IS) was between natural forest habitat type and planting year 1998 with IS value of 50%
The value of vegetation diversity index in the planting year 1995 approached that of natural forest, except for that of undergrowth vegetation
Summary
Forests possess biodiversity of flora and fauna, and natural resources which are useful for all organisms. Mining activity results in negative impacts such as: deforestation and forest degradation (Ardhana 2010; Puspaningsih et al 2010, Mukhtar & Heriyanto 2012), disturbed flora and fauna (Ardhana 2010; Riswan et al 2015), sedimentation and erosion (Puspaningsih et al 2010; Mukhtar & Heriyanto 2012), and microclimate change (Mukhtar & Heriyanto 2012) Due to such negative impacts, every mining company has obligation to return the area to forest condition, or in accordance with its allocated use, or obligation to do forest reclamation (Law of The Republic of Indonesia Number 4 of 2009).
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