Spatial Analysis to Identify the Priority Rehabilitation Area to Re-Introduce Ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri) in Meranti Sungai Merah Protected Forest, South Sumatra

Abstract

About 3 % remain Indonesia’s forest is distributed in South Sumatra Province. It is a key habitat for high biodiversity flora-fauna which has Asiatic character. On the other hand forest in some protected areas is surrounded by cultivation activities were managed by communities and privates. Those all human activities make pressure to the forest lead to the deforestation and caused critical land as well as habitat loss. Forest rehabilitation is an option to be proposed in preventing critical land and enhancing forest cover. This paper will discuss rehabilitation planning in landscape level of Meranti Sungai Merah Protected Forest. Spatial analysis has been used to determine land use changes and critical land level of the study area. The priority area has been analysis based on technical guidance for spatial analysis of critical land (MoF decree No. P.4/V-set/2013) and it modified in the sub-landscape level. Focus group discussion has been done to identify key parameters both biophysics and social economics. The result shows that about 2,442 Ha (21.5%) of the study area is classified as very critical and critical land and it could be expected as the priority area for rehabilitation. Native species such Ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri) would be recommended to be planted in the priority area of rehabilitation.