A REHABILITATION STUDY ON DEGRADED PEAT SWAMP FORESTS IN RIAU BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Abstract

The first step of rehabilitation study was carried out in Bukit Batu Forest Block of Riau Biosphere Reserve started in June 2010 until now. There are three main reasons that we need to do rehabilitation in this location arc: (1) large degraded forest area, particularly in about 3 km of both side along river basin of Bukit Batu River, (2) low the capability of natural regeneration, particularly typical upper storey species of peat swamp forest, and (3) need to restore tree species utilized by local people as Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP). The aim of the study are (1) to rehabilitate logged over peat swamp forests, and possible to improve the socio-economic values, (2) to improve the methods of producing seedlings stock and rehabilitation techniques on tropical degraded peat swamp forest area, (3) to enrich the number of main typical upper storey species, and (4) to restore tree species which has function as NTFP. We used three methods to produce seedling stock are (1) cuttings, (2) wildings, and (3) seed germination. Line and gap planting method were used to rehabilitate logged over forest area. We have applied two different planting methods such as normal and hill planting. Survival rate, height and diameter of planting trees are recorded. We carried out an open ended interview using questionnaires for 36 household of local community of Temiang's Village. The achievement indicators of rehabilitation study after one year are (1) the better method for production of seedlings stock is wildings and seeds germination method compared with cutting method, (2) all of tree species planted is high survival rate >57%, and even Palaquium burckii, Palaquium sumatranum, Callophylum lowii, and Cratoxylon arborescens are the highest survival rate of 100% with distinct rehabilitation techniques, (3) indicated that the highest growth performance is Cratoxylon arborescens with mean of height increment by normal planting 44.7+ 28.8, hill planting 34.4+ 14.0, and diameter increment by normal planting 0.8 + 0.16, hill planting 0.7 + 0.21. Followed by Tetramerista glabra with mean of height increment by normal planting 13.1+ 7.94, hill planting 15.1+ 4.68, and diameter increment by normal planting 0.6 + 0.2, hill planting 0.7 + 0.2 after five month planted and, (4) most of respondents (94.4%) agree in any rehabilitation degraded forest areas. Forest is important for maintaining environment and their life, but two respondents revealed that the priority to be done is a clear decision about boundary between protected forest and village area. Successful forest rehabilitation can be used to minimize conflict between forestry department and local villager in core area of Riau Biosphere Reserve in the future.