The application of gap planting technology to rehabilitate degraded natural forest

Abstract

In 2020 degraded forests in Indonesia reached 33.4 million ha. These forests must be rehabilitated. The purpose of this research was to show the application of gap planting technology to rehabilitate degraded natural forests. This improvement of forest regeneration methods by planting local intolerant tree species in gaps area was used. Artificial gaps area was designed and it’s location was adjusted to the topography and forest cover. The size of each gap area is 2,000 m2. The ratio of total gaps area to total natural forests area was about four to six. Open areas, soil density, forest fire risk, working time and cost of gap planting, and tree growth were studied. The results showed that after the gap planting: forest cover consists of 37.43% gap planting area and 62.57% natural forest area; forest soil is not compacted; the fire hazard rating in the gap and natural forests is low. Moreover, it is cost-effective and has positive impacts such as job creation for local communities and a productivity increase of rehabilitated forests. It is concluded that the gap planting technology was environment friendly technology, and it is recommended to be used for rehabilitation of degraded forests in Indonesia.