Microbes Population and Soil Respiration Under The Kemenyan (Styrax spp) Stand Rhizosphere

The rhizosphere defined as zone surrounds the root that it physical, chemical, and biological character directly influenced by root activities. The rhizosphere is characterized by high microbiological activities compared to bulk soil and affected the plant performance. The objectives of this research were to determine soil respiration and total population of soil microbes, including fungi and bacteria, phosphate solubilizing microbes, and organic matter decomposer microbes. Soil samples were collected from rhizosphere zone (0-20 cm) of kemenyan bunga, kemenyan durame, kemenyan batak and kemenyan minyak in Pardomuan village, Sitellu Urang Julu-Pakpak Bharat, North Sumatera. Microbial population was calculated using plate count method and soil respiration measured using jar methods. The result showed that the highest fungi and bacterial population were found under kemenyan durame rhizosphere those were 13.4 x 107 and 15.7 x107 CFU mL−1. The highest phosphate solubilizing microbes population (96.8 x104 CFU mL−1) was also found in kemenyan jurame rhizosphere. The highest organic matter decomposer microbe found in kemenyan minyak rhizosphere those were 25.1 x104 (fungi) and 73.2 x 104 CFU mL−1 (bacteria). The highest respiration (3.23 mg CO2 100 g−1 day−1) was also found in kemenyan jurame rhizosphere.     Keywords: bacteria, fungi, kemenyan, respiration, rhizospher

Optimizing Genomic DNA Isolation and PCR Amplification For Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma longifolia)

Pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack) is a shrubs growing wildly in the forests of Southeast Asia and widely used throughout the region because of its medicinal properties. Uncontrolled harvesting of wild-grown trees has led to rapid decrease of it natural populations, as well as causing a potential decrease in genetic diversity. Information about population genetic of pasak bumi still not determined yet, including the optimal DNA isolation and it reference marker. Therefore, our research was conducted to get information about optimal DNA isolation using CTAB methods and reference marker for population genetic study. DNA isolation was conducted through CTAB (Cetyl Trimetyl Ammonium Bromide) method. The yield DNA was PCR amplified using four barcoding standard marker those were ITS, matK, rbcL and trnL-trnF. The result showed that CTAB method was able to yield good quality DNA and 30% dilution produced the best band. The trnL-trnF primer was able to amplified DNA of pasak bumi with 50∘C annealing temperature, rbcL with 55∘C annealing temperature and ITS with 50∘C annealing temperature. While the matK primer failed to amplified.     Keywords: DNA, genetic, isolation, amplification, pasak bum

Generating Multifunctional Landscape through Reforestation with Native Trees in the Tropical Region: A Case Study of Gunung Dahu Research Forest, Bogor, Indonesia

Gunung Dahu Research Forest (GDRF) is a 250 ha tropical degraded land reforested by native dipterocarps species. The reforestation success was valued by evaluating the planted trees’ growth performance, their potential timber stock, natural regeneration capacity, soil improvement, biological interdependence, and environmental services. This scientific report used a combination of literature review and also primary data processing to describe the reforestation success within the area. A hilly species of Shorea platyclados showed the best growth performance with its average diameter and height of 43 cm and 23 m, respectively, with its mean diameter annual increment of 2.1 cm/year and the predicted standing stock at 220 m3/ha. Six Shorea species were identified to show their natural regeneration capacity and the occurrence of ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies, predominantly by the genus Rusula, determined the establishment of biological interdependency at the site. Reforestation improved soil organic matters as revealed by high soil porosity (51.06–52.32%) and infiltration rate (120–155.33 mm/h). The reforested landscape also ensures a continuous water supply and provides an economic benefit for the community. Thus, planting native trees for reforesting degraded tropical landscapes is prospective and may deliver multiple benefits in an ecological and economic view

The growth Shorea leprosula Miq. on various slopes and directions of slopes in Gunung Dahu Research Forest, Bogor

Shorea leprosula Miq is a Dipterocarps forest plantation that has the prospect of being developed because it is a fast-growing species with high economic value. Given its commercial importance, this study was conducted to analyze the effect of slope class and slope direction on growth. Data were collected using the census method on S.leprosula stands with a spacing of 2m x 2m and 4m x 8m. The direction of the slope is determined based on the configuration of the slope according to the cardinal directions, while the slope of the land is determined based on the classification of the slope class of the land. The results showed that the slope class, slope direction, and the interaction between factors had a significant effect on the growth of S.leprosula. The interaction between the slope class and the direction of the slope produces the highest average annual increment of diameter in the flat slope class with the direction of the slope facing north, which is 1.79 m / year while the highest annual increment of the total average height is in the very steep slope class with to the slope facing to the north at 0.82 m / year

Choosing native tree species for establishing man-made forest: A new perspective for sustainable forest management in changing world

Subiakto A, Rachmat HH, Sakai C. 2016. Choosing native tree species for establishing man-made forest: A new perspective for sustainable forest management in changing world. Biodiversitas 17: 620-625. Establishment of tree plantation on degraded lands and forest clearly favored some exotic species such as Gmelina arborea, Acacia, and Eucalyptus. High productivity, less harvesting time, and deeper silvicultural knowledge are the beneficial factor for choosing those exotics species. However, the use of a wide variety of native tree species becomes more significantly important in reforestation projects due to the greater biodiversity benefits and wider environmental services. This research was carried out as a multiyear observation and continuous experiment to value how native tree species can be prospective alternatives in providing and supporting human need. The performances of two native Indonesian Shorea species, Shorea leprosula and Shorea selanica, were evaluated at a dipterocarp planting trial in two different sites in Indonesia. Growth data was obtained from 15 and 17 years old plots, twelve 100 m X 100 m square plots on mineral soils (Gunung Dahu Experimental Forest/GDEF, Bogor) and eight resembled plots on frequently flooded peat land (PT. Arara Abadi/PT. AA, Riau). Survival rates were varied, ranged from 36-77%, diameter at breast height from 13.7-24.9 cm, tree height from 10.8-16.9 m, mean volume from 0.119 m3/tree-0.567 m3/tree, and total volume from 79.420 m3/ha-215.412 m3/ha. Growth rates of planted saplings were affected by species, site and spacing distance. The development of man-made dipterocarps forest in the tropic, especially in South East Asia can be as prospective as developing an exotic fast growing plantation. Eventhough in situ conservation would give the most benefit in conserving genetic resources of native tree species, establishing man-made dipterocarp forest still have higher environmental value than using exotic tree species such as acacia. Moreover, establishing man-made dipterocarp forest is considered more environmental friendly and possess lower to no risk of species invasion compare to those of developing exotic trees plantation

Short Communication: Genetic diversity and conservation strategy considerations for highly valuable medicinal tree of Taxus sumatrana in Indonesia

Rachmat HH, Subiakto A, Kamiya K. 2016. Genetic diversity and conservation strategy considerations for highly valuable medicinal tree of Taxus sumatrana in Indonesia. Biodiversitas 17: 487-491. Genetic variation is considered to be the key factor for longterm survival of the species. The recognition of the existing genetic diversity is the preliminary phase in development of an effective strategy for conservation of forest tree species. Taxus sumatrana or is confined to grow naturally only in Asia, it is a rare and endangered species that in several Asian countries needs both ex situ and in situ protection program. In its natural distribution, T. sumatrana is the only Taxus species that reached its southernmost distribution to Sumatran forest-Indonesia and locally named as Sumatran Yew. The objective of this research was to determine the genetic variation of T. sumatrana as baseline information for designing conservation strategy of the species. Leaves samples were collected from two natural population of T. sumatrana in Mt. Kerinci (Sungai Penuh, Jambi) and Mt. Dempo (Pagaralam, South Sumatra), both sites are located along Bukit Barisan Mountain Ranges of Sumatra. We sequenced two non-coding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions of trnL-trnF and psbC-trnS that each yielded 808 bp and 1092 bp, and rbcL gene of 523 bp, in which the total length covered 2423 bp. Surprisingly, we found no variation for all individuals and population, which means that the species is similar and both populations are not genetically structured. This study also revealed on how a proper conservation strategy should be practiced for the species as we know that without a sufficient amount of genetic variation, a population cannot evolve in response to changing environmental conditions. In situ conservation program is a must that can maintain the existence of the species while at the same time keeping the sustainability of the entire systems; in other side ex situ conservation strategy can take place as an additional effort to secure the genetic resources in case of the catastrophic events that might diminish their limited natural habitat

Chloroplast Genome Draft of Dryobalanops aromatica Generated Using Oxford Nanopore Technology and Its Potential Application for Phylogenetic Study

Kapur (Dryobalanops aromatica) is an important dipterocarp species currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List Threatened Species. Science-based conservation and restoration efforts are needed, which can be supported by new genomic data generated from new technologies, including MinION Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). ONT allows affordable long-read DNA sequencing, but this technology is still rarely applied to native Indonesian forest trees. Therefore, this study aimed to generate whole genome datasets through ONT and use part of these data to construct the draft of the chloroplast genome and analyze the universal DNA barcode-based genetic relationships for D. aromatica. The method included DNA isolation, library preparation, sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, and phylogenetic tree construction. Results showed that the DNA sequencing of D. aromatica resulted in 1.55 Gb of long-read DNA sequences from which a partial chloroplast genome (148,856 bp) was successfully constructed. The genetic relationship was analyzed using two selected DNA barcodes (rbcL and matK), and its combination showed that species of the genus Dryobalanops had a close relationship as indicated by adjacent branches between species. The phylogenetic tree of matK and the combination of the matK and rbcL genes showed that D. aromatica was closely related to Dryobalanops rappa, whereas the rbcL gene showed group separation between D. aromatica and D. rappa. Therefore, a combination of the matK and rbcL genes is recommended for future use in the phylogenetic or phylogenomic analysis of D. aromatica

A Chronicle of Indonesia’s Forest Management: A Long Step towards Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 17,000 islands of varying sizes and elevations, from lowlands to very high mountains, stretching more than 5000 km eastward from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua. Although occupying only 1.3% of the world’s land area, Indonesia possesses the third-largest rainforest and the second-highest level of biodiversity, with very high species diversity and endemism. However, during the last two decades, Indonesia has been known as a country with a high level of deforestation, a producer of smoke from burning forests and land, and a producer of carbon emissions. The aim of this paper is to review the environmental history and the long process of Indonesian forest management towards achieving environmental sustainability and community welfare. To do this, we analyze the milestones of Indonesian forest management history, present and future challenges, and provide strategic recommendations toward a viable Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) system. Our review showed that the history of forestry management in Indonesia has evolved through a long process, especially related to contestation over the control of natural resources and supporting policies and regulations. During the process, many efforts have been applied to reduce the deforestation rate, such as a moratorium on permitting primary natural forest and peat land, land rehabilitation and soil conservation, environmental protection, and other significant regulations. Therefore, these efforts should be maintained and improved continuously in the future due to their significant positive impacts on a variety of forest areas toward the achievement of viable SFM. Finally, we conclude that the Indonesian government has struggled to formulate sustainable forest management policies that balance economic, ecological, and social needs, among others, through developing and implementing social forestry instruments, developing and implementing human resource capacity, increasing community literacy, strengthening forest governance by eliminating ambiguity and overlapping regulations, simplification of bureaucracy, revitalization of traditional wisdom, and fair law enforcement