Conservation of endangered tree in the coal mining area in Tabang, East Kalimantan: biodiversity offset and protection

Abstract

Coal production that conducted open mining techniques transformed the ecosystem and was followed by the degradation of land quality. After the activity, biodiversity loss and water and soil damage occur in the ecosystem. This study observed the potential of endangered trees as essential elements of the ecosystem that experienced negative impacts after the coal mining activity and how to improve the situation. Vegetation analysis was conducted with eight line of plotted stripe random sampling, and followed with calculation of IVI, diversity index, and evenness index. Tree identification in the 3.2 ha of sample plot in the forest area of the coal mining concession indicated that there are 224 species of trees and 17 species are endangered with the domination of the Dipterocarpaceae family and one species is protected. Collection of seedlings and saplings of the species, followed by transferring the plants into the arboretum area developed to protect tree species in the surrounding area, could be a solution to ensure the species’ existence. Using seedlings and saplings as enrichment species in the restoration and rehabilitation area are also an application of biodiversity offset that is part of sustainable biodiversity management in the mining industry.