Volume Estimation of Standing Shorea sp. on UPM-JISE Rehabilitated Forest in Bintulu, Sarawak

This study was aimed to analyze the relationship between diameter at breast height, height, and volume of standing Shorea sp. and the relationship between age and volume of this species.  The study was conducted at different ages of rehabilitated forest in Bintulu Sarawak, where the measurement was taken from tree stand year 1992 until 2003.  The sampling plot of 20m x 20m was built for each age of stand. Ten standing Shorea sp. were randomly measured for sectionals (taper) from diameter at breast height until the free branches of the tree. The rest of the trees within the plot were only measured by diameter at breast height. All collected data were calculated to find basal area of each tree in meter square (m2).  The volume per plot was calculated using the Smalian’s formula to find the taper volume of the Shorea sp.  Statistical analysis was conducted to find the regression equation which could explain the relation between volume, diameter, and height of the tree.  Result showed that there was a relationship between volume, diameter, and height of the tree, and also there was relationship between volume and age of the tree.  Meanwhile, there was no relationship between taper of standing trees and age of trees. This means that volume taper of standing tree and age have no correlation

Effect of cultivation in different age’s oil palm plantation on selected chemical properties of peat swamp soils

Large-scale land conversion of peat for agricultural purposes requires clearance, drainage, fertilizer application, and liming to increase the pH and boost microbial activity. The objective of this present study was to compare the soil chemical properties of oil palm plantation one-three years oil palm planted and mature oil palm that were previously a secondary tropical peat swamp forest. Soil samples were collected randomly at difference age’s oil palm plantation from a Young Oil Palm Plantation (YOPP) in one year period of time at same place and Mature Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP) another place from oil palm plantation in Batang Igan, Sibu Sarawak, Malaysia. Approach: Forty eight soil samples were taken using a peat soil auger at 0-15 cm depths in every area. The samples were air dried and then sieved to pass 2 mm sieve. Soil pH in water and KCl, soil CEC, Organic Matter (OM), Organic Carbon (OC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorous (TP), Total Potassium (TK), carbon to nitrogen ratio and carbon to phosphorous ratio were determined using standard procedures. Statistical analysis showed that CEC, TC and OM content were statistically similar. Results: The soil pHwater, TN and C/N ration shows highly significant for all difference age's oil palm plantation. Difference with pHKCl and TK content shows no significantly difference between YOPP 2 years and 3 years but both areas significantly higher with MOPP. For TP and C/P ratio content has no significant difference for YOPP (2 years) and MOPP but significantly difference with YOPP (3 years). Conclusion: Regardless of difference age's oil palm plantation, total carbon, organic matter and CEC was statistically similar to different ages of oil palm plantation, but soil acidity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, C/N and C/P ratio was significantly higher between three areas weather YOPP (2 years), YOPP (3 years) and MOPP

Volume Estimation of Standing Shorea sp. on UPM-JISE Rehabilitated Forest in Bintulu, Sarawak

This study was aimed to analyze the relationship between diameter at breast height, height, and volume of standing Shorea sp. and the relationship between age and volume of this species.  The study was conducted at different ages of rehabilitated forest in Bintulu Sarawak, where the measurement was taken from tree stand year 1992 until 2003.  The sampling plot of 20m x 20m was built for each age of stand. Ten standing Shorea sp. were randomly measured for sectionals (taper) from diameter at breast height until the free branches of the tree. The rest of the trees within the plot were only measured by diameter at breast height. All collected data were calculated to find basal area of each tree in meter square (m2).  The volume per plot was calculated using the Smalian’s formula to find the taper volume of the Shorea sp.  Statistical analysis was conducted to find the regression equation which could explain the relation between volume, diameter, and height of the tree.  Result showed that there was a relationship between volume, diameter, and height of the tree, and also there was relationship between volume and age of the tree.  Meanwhile, there was no relationship between taper of standing trees and age of trees. This means that volume taper of standing tree and age have no correlation

Worker’s Competency and Perception toward Safety and Health on Forest Harvesting Operation in Indonesian Long Rotation Plantation Forest

Despite of prevention measures such as government regulations and recommendations through technical and managerial researches, unsafe working practices are still a common practice in Indonesia's forestry work, especially in tree harvesting operation.  In order to determine competency level of both field supervisor and workers as a baseline in developing participatory occupational safety and health (OSH) protection program, a previously developed competency assessing instrument has been modified.  Further, the redesigned instrument was used to verify competency level of field supervisor and forestry workers (chainsawman, hauling workers, and truck drivers) from 6 different forest sites with similar working method.  Results showed that both group of respondents had overestimated their competency level in practical aspect, indicated by the gap existence between OSH self-perception value and the standard-based assessment value.  The gap significantly occurred in knowledge, skill, and attitude elements; however working attitudes rest in the worst level.  This finding then indicated that improving working attitude should be taken as the goal priority in the OSH protection programs in Indonesia.  In short, when the discussion is pointed to practical activities, OSH protection program should adapt such strategies which put serious consideration on control mechanism

Worker’s Competency and Perception toward Safety and Health on Forest Harvesting Operation in Indonesian Long Rotation Plantation Forest

Despite of prevention measures such as government regulations and recommendations through technical and managerial researches, unsafe working practices are still a common practice in Indonesia's forestry work, especially in tree harvesting operation.  In order to determine competency level of both field supervisor and workers as a baseline in developing participatory occupational safety and health (OSH) protection program, a previously developed competency assessing instrument has been modified.  Further, the redesigned instrument was used to verify competency level of field supervisor and forestry workers (chainsawman, hauling workers, and truck drivers) from 6 different forest sites with similar working method.  Results showed that both group of respondents had overestimated their competency level in practical aspect, indicated by the gap existence between OSH self-perception value and the standard-based assessment value.  The gap significantly occurred in knowledge, skill, and attitude elements; however working attitudes rest in the worst level.  This finding then indicated that improving working attitude should be taken as the goal priority in the OSH protection programs in Indonesia.  In short, when the discussion is pointed to practical activities, OSH protection program should adapt such strategies which put serious consideration on control mechanism

Effect of drainage and land clearing on selected peat soil physical properties of secondary peat swamp forest.

A study was carried out to determine the effect of drainage and land clearing on selected peat soil physical properties of secondary peat swamp forest. This study was conducted in a drained secondary peat swamp forest and a cleared site of drained secondary peat swamp forest at Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. A 300 m2 experimental plot was prepared at both sites. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, bearing capacity and surface soil temperature were determined in-situ, while fiber content, soil bulk density, gravimetric water content, volumetric water content, loss on ignition, ash content and soil total porosity were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Unpaired t-test was used to compare the variables for the two sites using statistical analysis system software. The percentage of fibre content, volumetric water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity were not significantly different between the two sites. Gravimetric water content, loss on ignition and total porosity were significantly higher in the drained secondary peat swamp forest, while ash content, bulk density, surface soil temperature and bearing capacity were significantly higher in the cleared site of drained secondary peat swamp forest. After clearing the drained secondary peat swamp forest, gravimetric water content, loss on ignition and total porosity continuously decreased while surface soil temperature increased as well as ash content, bulk density and soil bearing capacity. The changes of peat soil physical properties in the drained secondary peat swamp forest after the land clearing are the important indicators that indicate some continuous processes of peat soil degradation after the draining. However, fiber content, volumetric water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity of the drained secondary peat swamp forest were not affected by the land clearing

Toposequent Effect on Soil Morphology and Classification of Ultisol Soil in the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia

Morphology in forest soils has developed over a long time due to the non-intensive management of forest soils. Damage to forest soil occurs when there is logging activity, fire, or land use change. Some forest was used as productive land for example agroforestry and forest production. As with landuse in agriculture, intensive management of forests can also reduce soil productivity. Inaccuracy forest land use would cause environmental or economic damage, so basic soil management data in forest areas is needed. However, the soil morphology of the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve (AHFR) in  Malaysiahas never been observed. The objective of this study is to assess the soil characteristic and soil morphological properties of theAHFR.  Studying the characteristics of soil morphology in toposequent conditions is necessary to find out the differences in soil from different heights and the effects of erosion, transportation, and deposition on the soil. This study was conducted in the AHFR, Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Peninsular Malaysia. Mapping of the area under investigation was carried out by conventional soil survey techniques with a physiographic approach using maps with a scale of 1:30,000. The results showed that AHFRhas some different soil morphological characteristics and classification in subgroupamong five different slope positions with similar soil order, which is a Ultisol soil. The soil in the AHFRis formed from highly weathered soil due to high rainfall in this location.The results of this study are important for soil development, identification management, and land use priority such as erosion control on steep-slope forest areas, regeneration and reforestation, and it can also be used for forest education, practice, research, and training activities.Keywords: Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, forest soil, soil morphology, toposequent, Ultisol soi

Assessment of carbon stock in chronosequence rehabilitated tropical forest stands in Malaysia

The loss and degradation in tropical forest region are some of the current global concern. Hence, these issues elevated the role of rehabilitated forests in providing ecological products and services. The information on the carbon stock is important in relation to global carbon and biomass use, but lacking from the tropical region. This paper reports the assessment of tree and soil carbon stock in a chronosequence rehabilitated tropical forest stands in Malaysia. The study site was at the UPM-Mitsubishi Forest Rehabilitation Project, UPMKB. 20{\times}20m plot was established each and assessed in 2009 at 1-, 10- and 19-year-old sites while an adjacent ?23-year-old natural regenerating secondary forest plot was established for comparison. The overall total carbon stock was in the order of 19-year-old>?23-year-old>10-year-old>1-year-old. When forest carbon stock is low, the soil component plays an important role in the carbon storage. The forest carbon recovery is crucial to increase soil carbon stock. The variations in the carbon stock showed the different stages of the forest recovery. Species survived after 19-years of planting are potential species for carbon sequestration activities in rehabilitated forest. Human intervention in rehabilitating degraded forest areas through tree planting initiatives is crucial towards recovering the forest ecological role especially in forest carbon stock capacity

Heavy metals in mangrove sediments along the Selangor River, Malaysia

Mangroves are woody plants that grow at the interface between land and sea in tropical and subtropical latitudes where they exist in conditions of high salinity, extreme tides, strong winds, high temperature, and muddy anaerobic soils. The objectives of this study were to determine the selected heavy metals Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb) contamination in mangrove sediments at the Selangor River, Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia; and to compare heavy metals content in mangrove sediments between different plots and different sediment depths. Physical properties (sediment texture and sediment moisture) and chemical properties (pH water, electrical conductivity, and selected heavy metals) of sediments were determined by different plots and depths. The element of Pb was analyzed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), whereas Cu and Zn using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). Data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version 9.4 software. The results showed that the sediment texture was in the class of sandy clay, and soil moisture in all plots and at all depths were high. The contamination of sediment is affected by many factors, including soil pH and soil electrical conductivity. Cu, Zn and PB in sediment were determined around 1.00-10.60 mg/kg, 215.40-259.00 mg/kg and 18.83-28.59 mg/kg respectively, and were found to experience a significant difference between the plots, but not a significant difference between depths. The sediment in all plots and at all depths was contaminated with these heavy metals because of it being surrounded by residential and industrial areas, combined with particular recreational activities, agriculture and fishing along the Selangor River

Assessment of Mangrove Sediment Quality Parameters from Different Seasons, Zones and Sediment Depths

Heavy metal concentrations have risen throughout Malaysia's coastline because of industrial wastewater discharge, affecting mangrove ecology significantly. Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr), and Nickel (Ni) were used to establish the Mangrove Sediment Quality Index (MSQi), which assesses and monitors the quality of mangrove sediment. This study was conducted at Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MFFR) in Perak, Malaysia to examine changes in MSQi features across seasons, mangrove zones, and sediment depths at three separate MMFR locations. Sediment samples were taken using auger in two different seasons (dry and wet seasons). After the silt was removed using aqua regia techniques, heavy metals were examined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. According to MSQi criteria in various seasons at three different locations, the highest concentration of heavy metals (HMs) was detected in the dry season in the least disturbed region at three different locations. During dry seasons, only Cr and Ni levels are higher in moderately and highly disturbed areas. Pb and Zn levels in moderately and highly disturbed areas are higher than in least disturbed areas during the rainy season. MSQi parameters in different mangrove zones at three locations showed that most HMs content is highest in the landward zone and it can be concluded that HMs sources are anthropogenic. Furthermore, MSQi measurements at three locations revealed that heavy metals content is highest at 015 cm and lowest at other depths