STUDIES ON THE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES BUKIT DUABELAS NATIONAL PARK AND THE VICINITY (JAMBI, SUMATRA):

By:
Indah Wahyuni 1) & 2), Sri S. Tjitrosoedirdjo 2), Setiabudi 2)
1) Bogor Agricultural University & 2) SEAMEO BIOTROP
E-Mail Contact Author: indah@biotrop.org

Bukit Duabelas National Park is one of the few remaining forests in the lowlands of Sumatra which has to be conserved. Illegal logging and conversion of the surrounding areas into rubber and oil palm plantations might lead to an increase in Invasive Plant Species (IPS) in the forest. The aims of the study are: 1) To compile a list of IPS for Bukit Duabelas National Park and the surrounding areas, 2) To determine the distribution of IPS in each of the land-use types natural forest, jungle rubber, rubber plantation, oil palm plantation, and residential areas, 3) To prioritize the management of IPS based on risk management and feasibility of containment. Exploration and sample collections were carried out on the permanent core plots of the Collaborative Research Center 990 EFForTS as well as in surrounding areas. Spatial distribution patterns of IPS were investigated by creating horizontal vegetation profile diagrams for the permanent plots. A risk management analysis was conducted based on the IPS protocol of Virtue (2008). No IPS were found on the forest plots (BF3 & BF4), 10 IPS in jungle rubber (BJ4 & BJ5), 27 species in rubber plantations (BR3 & BR4), and 28 species in oil palm plantations (BO2 & BO4). Horizontal vegetation profile diagram of BJ5 plot showed that Dicranopteris linearis had the highest coverage (639.98 m2) followed by Clidemia hirta (140.88 m2). The score of risk management of Clidemia hirta was 101.05 (high) and the feasibility factor was 48.49 (medium). Based on these results, it is necessary to prevent the spread of C. hirta into the forest. Bukit Duabelas National Park is in relatively good condition in terms of IPS infestation. However, spread of IPS likely cannot be avoided with continuing forest disturbance from illegal logging or other human intervention. Therefore, reforestation of the disturbed area is recommended to prevent the spread of IPS.