Natural regeneration potential of red meranti (Shorea leprosula Miq.) in 20-years-old man-made hilly dipterocarp forest

Abstract

Shorea leprosula Miq is one of major tropical timber within the dipterocarp family and known as red meranti in global trade. The species has been subjected to intensive timber extraction due to their high economic value and natural abundance in primary tropical forest. Timber supply of this species has been known to only from natural forests and none have been reported from commercial plantation. Thus, population decline, habitat contraction and local extinction become the major issues related to the species. This research was conducted to determine the natural regeneration potential of S. leprosula in 20-years-old man-made hilly dipterocarp forest. The research was located at Gunung Dahu Research Forest (GDRF), a 250 Ha-mixed dipterocarp forest established since 1997 in Bogor-West Java as landscape restoration together with native biodiversity conservation program. Five S. leprosula plots were chosen consisting from different spacing distance of 2 m x 2 m, 3 m x 3 m, and 4 m x 4 m. Result showed that each plot has been experiencing different total number of fruiting times, ranging from 1-3 times, with total numbers of natural juvenile reached 652 stocks. Among them, seedling were the most stocks available at GDRF, with the most dominant occupied at height class of 11 cm – 33 cm and 34 cm – 55 cm. Natural stocks were absent from 2 observed plots due to high human alteration at those area. Canopy openness, altitude and human intervention/disturbance are among the factors that affecting the regeneration potential at GDRF.