Using Rubber Plantation Sidelines for Forest Trees Cultivation in Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL)

INAFOR 11A-005

  

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF INDONESIAN FORESTRY

RESEARCHERS (INAFOR)

  Section A Sustainable Forest Management

  

Using Rubber Plantation Sidelines for Forest Trees Cultivation in

Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL)

_{1 2} Abdul Rauf and Rahmawaty

1 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumatera Utara University

  

Jl. Prof. A. Sofyan No. 3 Kampus USU Medan, North Sumatra, 20155, INDONESIA

₂ Corresponding emaor a.rauf1@usu.ac.id

Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumatera Utara University

Jl. Tridharma Ujung No. 1 Kampus USU Medan, North Sumatra, 20155, INDONESIA

  Paper prepared for The First International Conference of Indonesian Forestry Researchers (INAFOR)

  Bogor, 5

• – 7 December 2011

  INAFOR SECRETARIAT Sub Division of Dissemination, Publication and Library

  FORESTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Jl. Gunung Batu 5, Bogor 16610

  

Using Rubber Plantation Sidelines for Forest Trees Cultivation in

Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) _{1 2 1} Abdul Rauf and Rahmawaty

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumatera Utara University

Jl. Prof. A. Sofyan No. 3 Kampus USU Medan, North Sumatra, 20155, INDONESIA

₂ Corresponding emaor a.rauf1@usu.ac.id

Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumatera Utara University

  

Jl. Tridharma Ujung No. 1 Kampus USU Medan, North Sumatra, 20155, INDONESIA

ABSTRACT

  Mitra Lestari and Bagunda Lestari are KSMs (Kelompok Swadaya Masyarakat). They are a partner of DAS Wampu Forum, Bahorok District. Cultivation on rubber plantation sidelines with Meranti (Shorea macrophylla), damar (Agathis dammara) and gaharu (Aquilaria malacensis) has been carried out by members of them. This study aimed to measure the growth (diameter and height) of meranti, damar, and gaharu as well as to determine the effect of tree planting on the production of latex from rubber trees of over 20 years age. Meranti was planted in 2006 (in 1 hectare rubber plantation), damar was planted in 2007 (in 1 hectare rubber plantation), and gaharu was planted in 2008 (in 0.8 hectare rubber plantation). The results showed that diameter growth for meranti ranged from 13 to 15 cm, damar from 11.5 to 12.5 cm, and gaharu from 2.5 to 3.5 cm. For height, meranti ranged from 15-20 m, damar 8-10 m, and gaharu 2-3 m. The analysis showed that trees planted on rubber plantation sidelines with 3x5 meters spacing, did not decrease the production of latex from rubber trees aged over 20 years. Efforts to maximize the utilization of rubber plantation in Bahorok District have an important role in conservation of natural resources and environmental considering that this area as a buffer zone of Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL).

  Keywords : Sidelines, rubber, plantation, Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL).

1. INTRODUCTION

  Maximum utilization of land to meet the needs of food, shelter, and clothing is an action that is necessary not only for the present, but also for the future. Population growth and the reduction of productive land due to land use, then maximizing the use of land is not only aiming to get a tangible, but also to obtain the intangible benefits, such as to maintain germ plasm and prevent from flooding. Intangible benefits play an important role in climate change mitigation, maintain freshness and comfort, maintain the quantity and improve the quality of water resources, as well as educational facilities.

  Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) is one of the Nature Conservation Areas in Indonesia with an area of 1,094,692 Hectares, located in two provinces (BPS, 2010), namely Nangro Aceh Darussalam (Southwest Aceh, South Aceh, Aceh Singkil, Southeast Aceh, Gayo Lues, and Aceh Tamiang), and North Sumatra (Dairi, Karo and Langkat) (Figure 1). The Ministry of Forestry (2007) reported that the deforested are as in TNGL have reaching 18,089 ha (1.65%), where as the area that suffered a loss of quality due to various disturbances has reached 142,087 ha (12.98%) including 65 critical points of interference. Extensive degradation in the TNGL region will continue to grow if there is no preventive measures and repressive action in a consistent and sustainable ways. Hence, to prevent the occurrence of forest and land degradation in TNGL is the empowerment of communities in the buffer zone (particularly in the core area of the buffer zone) will help to suppress the entry of the encroachment. At least, people in the area is not involved (either as the main actors, as well as workers). In this regard, DAS Wampu Forum has set up and nurture Kelompok Swadaya Masyarakat (KSM) or Community Based Organization (CBO), which is located at Bukit Lawang, Bahorok, Langkat Regency.

  There are three KSMs that are located in Bukit Lawang, Bahorok, Langkat Regency, namely: KSM Mitra Lestari, Bagunda Lestari, and Jelutung Lestari. Important activity of KSM in term of watershed-based management is using rubber plantation sidelines for forest trees cultivation (meranti, damar and gaharu). Based on the above description, there is a need to carry on study on the aspect tree planting and latex production. The objective of this study is to determine the growth (diameter and height) of meranti, damar, and gaharu as well as to examine the effect of tree planting on the production of latex from rubber trees at the aged of more than 20 years.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1. Description of the Study Area

  The study was conducted in Batu Jong-jong and Timbang Lawang Villages, Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat Regency (Buffer Zone of Gunung Leuser National Park) (Figure 1).

  Figure 1: Map of the study area (No.2 and 17) at Gunung Leuser National Park North Sumatera Province and Nangro Aceh Darussalam Province (Rahmawaty et al., 2011)

2.2. Data Collection

  Growth measurement of meranti, dammar and gaharu that are planted in the rubber plantation sidelines with a spacing of 3x5 meters and its influence on the production of rubber latex plant in Batu Jong-jong and Timbang Lawan Villages, Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat Regency were surveyed using purposive random sampling. Meranti was planted in 2006 (in 1 ha rubber plantation), while damar in 2007 (in 1 ha rubber plantation) and gaharu in 2008 (in 0.8 ha rubber plantation). Sampling was done randomly at 5% of the total population (a total of 33 samples) on the selected land (purposive sampling). Diameter at breast height (dbh) was measured using a vernier caliper, while tree height measurement used bamboo pole (galah bamboo). Rubber latex production data was obtained from primary data (direct measurements).

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

  The results of dbh measurements and the tree height of meranti, damar, and gaharu are presented in Table 1. Table 1. The dbh average of forest trees that were planted in the rubber plantation sidelines

  

Forest tree

Average Meranti Damar Gaharu DBH (cm)

  13.68

  12.03

  3.07 Height (m)

  16.93

  9.18

  2.68 The dbh average of forest trees planted in the rubber plantation sidelines: meranti 13.68

  cm (range 13-15 cm), damar 12.03 cm (range 11.5 to 12.5 cm), and gaharu 3.07 cm (range 2.5 to 3.5 cm), average of tree height: 16.93 m (range 15-20 m) for meranti trees, 9.18 m (range 8-10 m) for damar, and 2.68 m (range 2-3 m) for gaharu.

  The growth of those three observed species in the rubber plantation sideline at the average ages of 3-5 years was considered normal. This is mainly due to the adaptability of these species to the local habitat or environment. These species also known as an endemic to that area. Based on ICRAF (2001) these species is shade tolerant. Furthermore, Duke (1983) mentioned that tapping of rubber tree began at the aged of 5 –8 years, depending on the area, and increased every year until maximum of about 20 years old, then the yield will sustain for 40

• –50 years or more Rubber trees are very suitable in the area with slope less than 8% (Ministry of Agriculture, 2003). In this area, the average of latex production in combination with forest trees (143.45 ml/tree/1xtapping or 71.73liter/ha/1xtapping) was almost the same with the average of latex production in monoculture plantations (144.32 liter/ha/1xtapping or 72.16ml/tree/1xtapping) (Figure 2).

Figure 2: The production of rubber latex in combination with forest trees According to ICRAF (2001) that the agroforestry system of rubber plantations with other crops, particularly crop plants did not interfere of latex production. The trees was planted on rubber plantation sidelines with a spacing of 3x5 meters, did not decrease the production of latex from rubber trees that have been aged over 20 years (Figures 3,4,5).

  145,6

150

  1

  10 100 1000

  Mix Cropping Mono kultur Latex production(ml/tree/1x tapping) Figure 3: The combination of rubber trees with meranti inBatu Jong-jong Village, Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat Regency (Buffer Zone of Mount Leuser National Park)

  Figure 4: The combination of rubber trees with damar in Batu Jong-jong Village, Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat Regency (Buffer Zone of Mount Leuser National Park)

  Figure 5: The combination of rubber trees with Gaharu inTimbang Lawang Village, Bahorok Sub- district, Langkat Regency (Buffer Zone of Mount Leuser National Park)

4. CONCLUSION

  The dbh for meranti, damar and gaharu was ranging from 13 to 15, 11.5 to 12.5 cm, and 2.5 to 3.5 cm, respectively. While height of meranti, damar and gaharu was ranging from 15-20 m, 8-10 m, 2-3 m, respectively. Trees that were planted on rubber plantation sidelines did not cause to the decrease of latex production from rubber trees of 20 years age or more.

  REFERENCES Hevea brasiliensis

  Duke, A (1983): (Willd.) Muell.-Arg. Para rubber _th http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Hevea_brasiliensis.html Accessed at 20 of November, 2011.

  ICRAF(2001): Sistem wanatani karet dengan berbagai macam tanaman semusim dan tree lainnya. International Centre for Research in Agroforestry.Sea Regional Research Program. Bogor. Ministry of Agriculture (2003): Petunjuk Teknis Evaluasi Lahan untuk Komoditas Pertanian. The Centre for Soil and Agroclimate Research, PusatPenelitiandanPengembangan Tanah danAgroklimat- BadanPenelitiandanPengembanganPertanian, DepartemenPertanian, Bogor. 153p. Ministry of Forestry (2007): Pembangunan Model Desa Konservasi. Dirjen Perlindungan Hutan dan Konservasi Alam, Balai Besar Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser, Kementerian Kehutanan RI. Jakarta. Rahmawaty, A Syofyan and S Fadillah (2011): Model Desa Konservasi di Sekitar Taman Nasional Gunung

Leuser Bidang Taman Nasional Wilayah III Langkat . Program studi Kehutanan, Fakultas Pertanian USU.

Medan. Statistic of Langkat Regency (BPS) (2010): Langkat in Figure (Langkat dalam Angka). Cooperation by Statistic of Langkat Regency with the Regional Development Planning Board of Langkat Regency, Stabat. Statistic of Langkat Regency (BPS) (2010): Bahorok in Figure (Besitang dalam Angka). Cooperation by Statistic of Langkat Regency with the Regional Development Planning Board of Langkat Regency, Stabat.