Utilization and cultivation opportunities of pelawan (Tristaniopsis merguensis Griff.) as a biomas energy source in Southern Sumatera

Abstract

Pelawan (Tristaniopsis merguensis Griff.) has been used for many purposes in Southern Sumatera including for energy, food and medicine but effort to cultivate the species is not yet tried properly. The wide utilization resulting overexploitation and degraded its natural habitats. Research on pelawan utilization and cultivation was conducted with survey and field experimental method. Survey conducted on its natural habitats and related home industry and the field experimental is conducted on the Forest Area for Specific Purpose (KHDTK) of Kemampo to promote cultivation of the species. Result showed that pelawan was mostly used for energy purpose in the form of small timber both used directly as firewood or after being converted into charcoal. Utilization of pelawan as firewood is mostly done by household and several restaurants to get food with distinctive taste but pelawan charcoal is managed as an export commodity product by home industry. Pelawan has strong ability to sprout and stump sprouting became the main regeneration mechanism, however, generative reproduction is an important mechanism to increase its stand productivity. Cultivation trials showed that pelawan can be cultivated in generative reproduction with diameter growth of 4.5 cm and height of 457 cm in the age of 3 years old.