Faculty of Resource Science and Technology GROWTH ... · I would like to express my heartiest gratitude to my supervisor-in-charge, Dr Mohd. Effendi bin Wasli and my co-supervisor,

GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL RATE OF PLANTED

SHOREA MACROPHYLLA AT VARIOUS AGE STANDS IN

SAMPADI FOREST RESERVE

Mugunthan A/L Perumal

Bachelor of Science with Honours

(Plant Resource Science and Management)

2012

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology

Growth Performance and Survival Rate of Planted Shorea macrophylla at Various

Age Stands in Sampadi Forest Reserve

MUGUNTHAN A/L PERUMAL

This project report is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

Degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours

(Plant Resource Science and Management)

Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology


UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

June 2012

APPROVAL SHEET

Name of candidate: Mugunthan A/L Perumal

Matric number: 24162

Title of dissertation: Growth Performance and Survival Rate of Planted Shorea

macrophylla at Various Age Stands in Sampadi Forest Reserve

……………………………….

(Dr Mohd. Effendi bin Wasli)

Supervisor

………………………………

(Prof. Dr Hamsawi bin Sani)

Co-Supervisor

……………………………....

(Dr Siti Rubiah Zainudin)

Coordinator

Plant Resource Science and Management Programme



Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, my praise to Almighty God for giving me the strength and good health

to hurdle through all the challenges and tasks in completing my research project from the

first stage of preparing my research project until the final stage of publishing my research

project.

I would like to express my heartiest gratitude to my supervisor-in-charge, Dr Mohd.

Effendi bin Wasli and my co-supervisor, Prof. Dr Hamsawi bin Sani for their willingness

to help and provide constant guidance, supervision, moral support and their precious time

for discussions and field samplings throughout the course of this research project.

I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Director and staff of the Forest

Department, Sarawak as well as Mr. Jonathan Lat for their supportive assistance and kind

co-operation during the field survey at Sampadi Forest Reserve.

Besides, I would like to extend my thanks to my family members especially my

parents, Mr. Perumal Muthiah and Madam Manomani Perumall as well as my siblings for

their never ending support from behind by giving encouragement and advice in completing

my research project.

Not to forget also, I too would like to take this opportunity to deliver my

appreciation to my friends and project team members especially Mr. Ogary Kinshen, Miss

Nurhanani Hanis, Miss Ho Soo Ying, Miss Jessica Lee and Miss Norakliliriana for their

companionship, support and help during the field samplings. Without them, I may not be

able to collect all the data needed on time.

Once again, thank you to all of you who had contributed directly or indirectly upon

completing this final year project. Thank you very much.

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the Final Year Project Report is based on my original work except for

quotations and citations, which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not

been previously or concurrently submitted for any degree at UNIMAS or other institutions

of higher learning.

………………………………...

(Mugunthan A/L Perumal)

24162




Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page No.

TITLE PAGE ………………………………………………………….................. i

APPROVAL SHEET …………………………………………………………….. ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ………………………………………………………. iii

DECLARATION …………………………………………………………............ iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………... v

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS …………………………………… ……............... vii

LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………............. viii

LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………….. x

LIST OF APPENDICES …………………………………………………............ xi

ABSTRACT / ABSTRAK ……………………………………………………….. 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 2

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................ 5

2.1 Current status of tropical rainforests in South East Asia ……………… 5

2.2 Reforestation efforts and various studies on rehabilitation of

degraded areas in tropical region of Malaysia ………………………... 8

2.3 Planting techniques for reforestation in regenerating tropical

rainforest ………………………………………………………............. 11

2.3.1 Enrichment planting technique ……………………………… 11

2.3.1.1 Line planting technique …………………………… 12

2.3.1.2 Gap planting technique ……………………………. 13

2.3.2 Open space planting technique and multi-storied forest

planting ……………………………………………………… 14

2.4 Shorea macrophylla (de Vriese) P.S. Ashton …………….................... 16

2.4.1 General description and morphology ……………………….. 16

2.4.2 Taxonomic classification ……………………………………. 18

2.4.3 Vernacular names …………………………………………… 18

2.4.4 Natural range distribution and habitat ………………………. 18

2.4.5 Soil requirements for Shorea macrophylla …………………. 20

2.4.6 Flowering, fruiting and economic significance of Shorea

macrophylla …………………………………………………. 21

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ……………………………………………. 23

3.1 Study area ………………………………………………………………23

3.2 General land use history and vegetation of the study area …………….. 24

3.3 Site preparation and experimental design ……………………………... 26

3.4 Statistical analysis ……………………………………………………... 29

4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ……………………………………………... 30

4.1 Survival rate of planted Shorea macrophylla in SM 1996, SM 1997,

SM 1998 and SM 1999 ………………………………………………... 30

4.2 Growth performance of planted Shorea macrophylla in SM 1996,

SM 1997, SM 1998 and SM 1999 …………………………………….. 31

4.2.1 Tree height of planted Shorea macrophylla …………………. 31

4.2.2 Diameter at breast height (DBH) of planted

Shorea macrophylla …............................................................. 34

4.3 Light intensity in SM 1996, SM 1997, SM 1998 and

SM 1999 Shorea macrophylla plots…………………………………… 37

4.4 Mean annual increment in height (MAIH) and diameter at breast

height (MAID) of planted Shorea macrophylla in SM 1996, SM 1997,

SM 1998 and SM 1999 …………………………………………………40

4.5 Suitability and growth performance of planted Shorea macrophylla

in comparison with previous studies on reforestation in Malaysia ……. 42

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS …………………………… 47

6.0 REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………. 49

APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………………. 55

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ha Hectare

cm Centimeter

m Meter

mm Milimeter

km Kilometer

% Percentage

°C Degree Celcius

FC Foot-candle

µEs-1 micro Einstein

DBH Diameter at breast height

ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization

TRF Tropical Rainforests

SM Shorea macrophylla

SM96 / SM 1996 Shorea macrophylla planted in1996

sp. A single species

spp. A larger group of species

MAIH Mean Annual Increment in Height

MAID Mean Annual Increment in Diameter

LIST OF FIGURES

Figures Page No.

Figure 1 Line planting method ……………………………………………… 13

Figure 2 Gap planting method ………………………………………………. 14

Figure 3 Multi-storied forest planting designs ……………………………… 15

Figure 4a Bark of Shorea macrophylla ………………………………............. 17

Figure 4b Nuts of Shorea macrophylla……………………………………….. 17

Figure 4c Leaves of Shorea macrophylla…………………………………….. 17

Figure 5 Location of study area- Sampadi Forest Reserve………………….. 23

Figure 6 Study plot design……………………………………………………26

Figure 7 Tree height estimation using trigonometry principles……………... 27

Figure 8 The survival rate of planted Shorea macrophylla in plot

aged 16 years (SM1996), plot aged 15 years (SM1997),

plot aged 14 years (SM1998) and plot aged 13 years (SM1999) …. 30

Figure 9 Total height (m) distribution of planted Shorea macrophylla

in SM 1996, SM 1997, SM 1998 and SM 1999 ……………………32

Figure 10 The mean average total height (m) of planted Shorea

macrophylla in SM 1996, SM 1997, SM 1998 and SM 1999 …….. 33

Figure 11 Diameter at breast height (cm) distribution of planted Shorea

macrophylla in SM 1996, SM 1997, SM 1998 and SM1999 …....... 34

Figure 12 The mean average diameter at breast height (cm) of planted

Shorea macrophylla in SM 1996, SM 1997, SM 1998 and

SM 1999 …………………………………………………………… 35

Figure 13 The average light intensity of planted Shorea macrophylla in

plot aged 16 years (SM1996), plot aged 15 years (SM1997),

plot aged 14 years (SM1998) and plot aged 13 years (SM1999) …. 37

Figure 14 The mean annual increment in height (MAIH) of planted

Shorea macrophylla in plot aged 16 years (SM1996),

plot aged 15 years (SM1997), plot aged 14 years (SM1998)

and plot aged 13 years (SM1999) …………………………………. 40

Figure 15 The mean annual increment in diameter (MAID) of planted

Shorea macrophylla in plot aged 16 years (SM1996),

plot aged 15 years (SM1997), plot aged 14 years (SM1998)

and plot aged 13 years (SM1999) …………………………………. 41

LIST OF TABLES

Tables Page No.

Table 1 Malaysia‟s detailed status of forests, 1991 (million ha) …………... 5

Table 2 Current land use of Sarawak ………………………………………. 6

Table 3 Comparison of Shorea macrophylla with other tree species

under reforestation programme in Sarawak (1979-1998) …………. 8

Table 4 The growth rates of planted species in this study and other

previous study on reforestation in Malaysia ..……………………... 42

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendices Page No.

Appendix 1 Reforestation project in Sarawak; summary of area planted

by locality (1979 – 1998) ………………………………………….. 55

Appendix 2 View of the study site: Sampadi Forest Reserve, Lundu

Sarawak ……………………………………………………………. 56

Appendix 3 Inventory form …………………………………………………….. 57

Appendix 4 Height (m) of planted Shorea macrophylla in SM 1996 ………….. 58




Appendix 8 Diameter at breast height (cm) of planted

Shorea macrophylla in SM 1996 ………………………………….. 62







Appendix 12 Light intensity (%) of planted Shorea macrophylla

in SM 1996 ………………………………………………………… 66


in SM 1997 ………………………………………………………… 67


in SM 1998 ………………………………………………………… 68


in SM 1999 ………………………………………………………… 69

Appendix 16 Survival rate, average height, average diameter at breast height

(DBH), average light intensity, mean annual increment in

height(MAIH) and diameter (MAID) of planted

Shorea macrophylla under different age stands ……………………70

Appendix 17 Statistical analysis …………………………………………………. 71

Growth Performance and Survival Rate of Planted Shorea macrophylla at Various

Age Stands in Sampadi Forest Reserve

Mugunthan A/L Perumal




Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)

ABSTRACT

A study on the growth performance and survival rate of planted Shorea macrophylla of different age stands

was conducted at Sampadi Forest Reserve, Sarawak. The objectives of this study were to assess the growth

performance and survival rate of planted S. macrophylla under reforestation activities that were implemented

by Forest Department, Sarawak along with several agencies of Japan as to obtain preliminary data for further

improvement of future reforestation activities in Sarawak. In this study, S. macrophylla planted under line

planting method was selected. Study plots were established in the reforestation areas (planted with S.

macrophylla in the year 1996; SM96, 1997; SM97, 1998; SM98 and 1999; SM99). Diameter at breast height

(DBH), total height, survival rate and light intensity were measured. The findings indicated that the growth

performance in terms of survivability and mean annual increment of diameter (MAID) in SM96 were the

highest and showed better growth as compared to SM97, SM98 and SM99. On the other hand, the mean

annual increment of height (MAIH) in SM97 revealed the greatest height among other plots. The survival

rate of S. macrophylla in SM96, SM97, SM98 and SM99 were 89%, 81%, 77% and 51% respectively.

Substantial growth performance and high survival rate of S. macrophylla implied that microclimate condition

such as competition between planted and existing pioneer species of the study area may have affected the

planted S. macrophylla. Notwithstanding, it is recommended that proper silvicultural technique is crucial to

manage the existing pioneer tree species towards the success of this reforestation programme.

Keywords: reforestation, Shorea macrophylla, growth performance, survival rate, diameter at breast height

(DBH)

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian mengenai prestasi tumbesaran dan kadar kelangsungan hidup Shorea macrophylla pada umur

yang berbeza telah dijalankan di Hutan Simpan Sampadi, Sarawak. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menilai

prestasi tumbesaran dan kadar kelangsungan hidup S. macrophylla yang ditanam dibawah aktiviti

penanaman semula hutan yang telah dilaksanakan oleh Jabatan Perhutanan, Sarawak bersama-sama

dengan beberapa agensi dari Jepun untuk mendapatkan data awal bagi aktiviti penanaman semula hutan

pada masa hadapan di Sarawak. Dalam kajian ini, S. macrophylla yang ditanam dengan kaedah penanaman

secara jajar telah dipilih. Plot kajian telah dibuat di kawasan penanaman semula hutan (ditanam dengan S.

macrophylla pada tahun 1996; SM96, 1997; SM97, 1998; SM98 dan 1999; SM99). Diameter pada paras

dada (DBH), ketinggian pokok, kelangsungan hidup dan keamatan cahaya telah diukur. Keputusan daripada

kajian ini menunjukkan prestasi tumbesaran dari segi kemandirian dan min kenaikan tahunan diameter

(MAID) di SM96 adalah tertinggi dan mencatatkan pertumbuhan yang lebih baik berbanding SM97, SM98

dan SM99. Sebaliknya, min kenaikan tahunan ketinggian (MAIH) di SM97 mencatatkan ketinggian terbesar

berbanding plot lain. Kadar kelangsungan hidup S. macrophylla dalam SM96, SM97, SM98 dan SM99

adalah 89%, 81%, 77% dan 51% masing-masing. Prestasi tumbesaran yang kukuh serta kadar kelangsungan

hidup S. macrophylla yang tinggi menunjukkan bahawa keadaan iklim mikro seperti persaingan antara

tanaman dan spesis perintis yang sedia ada di kawasan kajian mungkin mempengaruhi S. macrophylla.

Walaubagaimanapun, adalah disyorkan bahawa teknik silvikultur yang betul adalah penting untuk

menguruskan spesis pokok perintis yang sedia ada ke arah menjayakan program penanaman semula hutan

ini.

Kata Kunci: penanaman semula hutan, Shorea macrophylla, prestasi tumbesaran, kadar kelangsungan

hidup, diameter pada aras dada (DBH)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Tropical rainforests (TRF) are recognized as the richest ecosystems in the world in

terms of structure and species diversity (Whitmore, 1998). According to Shukla et al.

(1990), on a large regional and global scale, tropical rainforests (TRF) have an outstanding

role and major influence in ameliorating and maintaining global climate change by

reducing the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Though occupying only 7 % of the earth‟s

land surface, over half of the planet‟s life forms are found in tropical rainforests (TRF)

(Wilson, 1988). Tropical rainforests (TRF) not only sustain biodiversity but provide homes

to indigenous peoples, pharmacopeias of natural products, and provide crucial ecosystem

services, such as flood amelioration and soil conservation.

Nonetheless, despite the multi-functional roles and richness, tropical rainforests

(TRF) are fragile habitats and are being destroyed rapidly (Food Agriculture Organization,

2001). Montagnini et al. (1997) strongly stated that the conversion of forested areas to

non-forest lands such as to pasture and agriculture have resulted in the permanent reduction

of indigenous species including timber species such as Dipterocarp spp. from

Dipterocarpaceae family. Commercial logging activities, shifting cultivation, urbanization

industry, natural disturbances like landslide and other forms of encroachment are all

principal causes of deforestation in tropical regions (ITTO, 2002; Geist and Lambin, 2002).

Due to the consequence of deforestation, excessive forest harvesting and shifting

cultivation, tropical lands become rapidly eroded and infertile, and degraded farmlands are

commonly abandoned.

Whitmore (1998) pointed out that an average of 15.4 million ha of tropical forests

was destroyed each year, while another 5.6 million ha were logged. The net rate of forest

conversion was 21 million ha per year which was approximately 1.2 % of all remaining

forests cleared or logged annually. In Malaysia, a total of 4.6 million of forests (22.8 % of

the total forested area) were subjected to degradation due to logging activities in the mid-

1980s. According to Ishizuka et al. (2000) and Arifin et al. (2007), once the natural forests

have been cleared, soil nutrients are lost through erosion and leaching resulting in low soil

nutrient stocks. Therefore, in order to continuously obtain the economic, environmental,

social and cultural benefits of the forest, the damage has to be repaired by various technical

approaches, such as rehabilitation. Reforestation is considered an important approach being

adopted to rehabilitate tropical rainforests.

Reforestation plays a vital role in maintaining our tropical rainforests and may offer

one means of mitigating these processes of degradation while sustaining resident human

communities. The importance of reforestation in the tropics includes productions of timber

and other goods and services as well as aiding the recovery of biodiversity by re-

establishing forest cover (Parrotta et al., 1997. Lamb et al., 2005; Benayas et al., 2009). In

addition, ecological rehabilitation with the goal of restoring high-diversity native tropical

forest (Ashton et al., 2001; Rodrigues et al., 2009), improving connectivity in rural

landscapes (Tucker and Murphy, 1997; Bennett, 2003; Harvey et al., 2008), enhancing

carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation (Silver et al., 2000; Lal, 2008), and

regulation of water cycles (Bruijnzeel, 2004; van Dijk and Keenan, 2007) were among the

reforestation objectives.

However, lack of information regarding tree species performance has been

identified as major limitation on the success and adoption of diversified reforestation

strategies in restoring the tropical rainforests. According to research studies conducted by

Arifin et al. (2008) in Peninsular Malaysia, stated that information on soil properties under

rehabilitation of degraded forest land and growth performance including survival rate of

planted dipterocarp species such as Shorea macrophylla and non-dipterocarp species is still

limited. This means that the research study on the assessment of growth performance and

survival rate of planted Shorea macrophylla is significant for future reforestation and

rehabilitation efforts, especially in Malaysia.

Since Shorea macrophylla has been identified as one of the valuable timber tree

species which benefits future reforestation and rehabilitation efforts in Sarawak, it is very

crucial to conduct the study on the growth performance of this particular species. This

preliminary study is to clarify fundamental information on the suitability of Shorea

macrophylla of Dipterocarpaceae family planted using line planting technique for future

reforestation and rehabilitation activities in Sarawak. Hence, the objectives of this study

are to evaluate and assess the growth performance and survival rate of planted Shorea

macrophylla at various age stands under reforestation activities that were implemented by

Forest Department, Sarawak along with several agencies of Japan in Sampadi Forest

Reserve. Besides that, the objective of this study is to obtain preliminary data which will be

used by Forest Department, Sarawak for further improvement in the planning strategies of

their future reforestation activities.

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Current Status of Tropical Rainforests in South East Asia

Tropical rainforests of Malaysia is located in South East Asia and comprises of

Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Kalimantan (Borneo) and Peninsular Malaysia. In the

case of total forest cover in Malaysia, it has been estimated to be 20 million ha or 60 % of

its total land area, with the proportion of forested land being higher in Sabah and Sarawak

compared to Peninsular Malaysia. Of the total forest area, 5.97 million ha are in the

Peninsular Malaysia, 4.25 million ha in Sabah and 9.84 million ha in Sarawak (Jomo et al.,

2004). The 1991 World Bank reported on Malaysia‟s forestry sub-sector endorsed

pessimistic projections for the future of the forest, as referred in Table 1 below.

Table 1 Malaysia: Detailed Status of Forests, 1991 (million ha)

Pen. Malaysia Sabah Sarawak Total

Land area

13.2 7.4 12.3 32.9

Forest area

5.5 4.2 8.8 18.5

Forest/Total Land Area (%)

42 57 71 56

Park/Wildlife Sanctuaries

0.74 0.39 0.26 1.39

State Land Forest areas

0.2 0.6 3.9 4.7

- Virgin

0.2 0.0 1.6 1.6

- Logged

0.2 0.6 2.3 3.1

Permanent Forest Estate (PFE)

4.47 3.35 4.64 12.73

- Protection forest area

1.90 0.35 0.49 2.74

- Productive PFE area

2.48 3.00 4.15 9.99

Virgin

0.4 0.5 2.5 3.4

Logged

2.4 2.5 1.7 6.6

Total Logged Forest Area

3.1 3.1 3.6 9.8

Total Virgin Loggable Forest Area 0.4 0.5 3.5 4.4

Present Annual Harvest Area

0.15 0.15 0.40 0.70

Remaining Years of Virgin Logging 3 3 9 6 Source: World Bank, 1991

In Sarawak, forests have been classified into three main categories namely the

Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) which comprises of Gazetted Forests namely Protected

Forests, Forest Reserves and Communal Forests; Totally Protected Area (TPA) such as

National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Rehabilitation Centre; State Land Forest (SLF)

whereby the forest land not reserved permanently as forests, can be alienated for other land

uses as shown in Table 2 and other lands including agriculture land, urban land and native

customary land.

Table 2: Current Land Use of Sarawak

Land use Total land area

Permanent Forest Estate 6.0 million ha

(Forest Plantation) 2.8 million ha

(Natural Forests) 3.2 million ha

Totally Protected Areas 1.0 million ha

State land Forest 2.8 million ha

Plantation (Oil Palm + Agriculture) 2.3 million ha

Others (Development) 0.3 million ha

Total Land Area 12.4 million ha

Source: Sabal Agroforestry Centre, 2011

According to Food and Agricultural Organization (2005), it was estimated that the

world‟s forest are lost and decreasing annually at the rate of 13 million hectares, mainly

due to clearing for agriculture and shifting cultivation. The reduction and degradation

caused by anthropological activities affect not only the sustainable production of timber

but also the global environment. Reduction of these tropical forests has an impact on global

warming in two ways namely the acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon

dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxides; and reduction in sequestration of carbon by tropical

trees like Shorea spp. during photosynthesis (Kira, 1991). Natural disasters such as

flooding, erosion, landslides and desertification have increased dramatically due in part to

the degradation or loss of tropical forest (Kobayashi, 2004; Tanouchi, 1989).

Nihonchousakai (1989) stated that approximately more than 20 % of the topsoil on the

world‟s arable land has been lost during the past 40 years and desertification is progressing

at a rate of 6 million ha per year.

Rautner (2005) pointed out that the Borneo‟s forests are disappearing at a very fast

rate as compared to the percent of total forest land area in the mid-1980s. He reported that

only about 50.4 % of Borneo is still forested as compared to 73.7 % and 57.5 % in the year

1985 and 2000 respectively. This clearly shows that the current deforestation rate for

Borneo is very alarming. In Sarawak, the main causes of deforestation and forest

degradation reported were due to the commercial logging and conversion of forest to

commercial agricultural uses such as oil palm plantation. Jomo et al. (2004) added that

logging of trees for economic purpose of timber has undoubtedly been the major causes of

destruction of tropical rainforest in Sarawak.

Forest harvesting especially for timber affects the forest structure and environment.

It is estimated that the growth and regeneration rates of trees has declined in the tropics for

reasons such as degradation of natural forest, erosion, landslides and greenhouse impacts.

However, severity of harvesting impacts on forest ecosystem vary with time, logging

methods, soil characteristics, topography, local rainfall patterns and mode of timber

transportation (Kobayashi, 1982; Stone, 1984). According to Gent (1984) and Froelich

(1983), many studies have examined the impact of forest harvesting on soil physical

properties which include reduced saturated hydraulic conductivity, coarse porosity and

total porosity, and increased bulk density. Nonetheless, soil chemical properties also

changed with decreasing total carbon, total nitrogen and exchangeable cations caused by

organic matter decomposition and run-off from ecosystems (Kobayashi, 1994). Thus,

changes both in physical and chemical properties of soil reduce the soil productivity of

forest and the growth of trees.

2.2 Reforestation Efforts and various studies on Rehabilitation of Degraded Areas in

Tropical Region of Malaysia

Sarawak Forest Department began its Reforestation Programme in 1979. In the

broadest term, the purpose of the reforestation effort was to reforest shifting cultivation and

degraded areas within permanent forest estates to productive forests in order to reach

sustainable forest production role in the future. Forest Department, Sarawak (1999),

reported that over 20 years (since the year 1979 until 1998), the total area which had been

reforested was about 18,969 hectares, consisting 2,222 hectares of rattan species and

16,747 hectares of timber species (Table 3). The areas planted are distributed over 11

localities throughout Sarawak as shown in Appendix 2.

Table 3: Comparison of Shorea macrophylla with Other Tree Species under Reforestation Programme in

Sarawak (1979-1998)

No. Timber Species Local Name Area (ha)

1 Shorea macrophylla Engkabang jantong 7,314.4

2 Acacia mangium Acacia 3,592.8

3 Dryobalanops spp. Kapur 1,773.6

4 Durio zibethinus Durian 1,115.7

5 Shorea pinanga Engkabang langgai bukit 996.7

6 Hevea brasiliensis Rubber / Getah 71.6

7 Other Shorea spp. (6) 143.5

8 Others species (27) 1,738.9

TOTAL 16,747.0 Source: Forest Department, Sarawak, 1999

In Sarawak, Shorea macrophylla was reported as most popular planted species for

the purpose of reforestation activities. From 1979-1999, a total of 7,314.4 hectares of

Shorea macrophylla has been planted in Sarawak.

According to Sakurai et al. (1999), several enrichment plantings have been

conducted in Niah Forest Reserve, Miri, Sampadi Forest Reserve and Sabal Forest

Reserve. On the other hand, the rehabilitation efforts on degraded land were carried out at

Gunung Gading National Park, Gunung Selang Forest Reserve, Semengoh Forest Reserve

and Balai Ringin Protected Forest (Sakurai et al., 2006).

Apart from that, several joint research projects on rehabilitation of the tropical

rainforests were initiated and implemented in Bintulu jointly by Forest Department of

Sarawak, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Yokohama National University, Japan. Besides,

Malaysian-Japan Friendship projects such as Yokohama-Sarawak Friendship Forest

Project at Kubah National Park, Hiroshima-Sarawak Friendship Forest Project at Balai

Ringin Protected Forest and Oita-Sarawak Friendship Forest Project at Sampadi Forest

Reserve were conducted as well for reforestation and rehabilitation purpose. An area of

300 hectares was allocated for tree planting programme in Balai Ringin Protected Forest

and 25 hectares of affected shifting cultivation area in Kubah National Park. The area was

planted with tree species including Shorea macrophylla, Dryobalanops beccarii,

Azadirachta excelsa and Calophyllum teysmanii using line planting method by the

volunteers in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Apart from that, an area of 6.9 hectares in Sampadi Forest Reserve at the Lundu

Division was allocated for Oita-Sarawak project. According to Forest Department,

Sarawak (2009), the area was planted over a period of 5 years from 1996 to 2000. In 1996,

1.6 hectares were planted with Shorea macrophylla while in 1997 and 1998, 1.1 and 1.2

hectares respectively were planted. In August 1999, another 1.3 hectares were planted.

Such reforestation and rehabilitation efforts are especially significant in reforesting small

areas deforested by shifting cultivation within the permanent forest estate and totally

protected areas which would not be of economic size for big-scale operators for plantation

forest establishment.

In North Ulu Segama Sabah, reforestation activities to restore the tropical

rainforests were also conducted to address the rapid deforestation rate. ITOCHU

Corporation collaborated with the Forestry Department of Sabah to carry out reforestation

of an area of approximately 2,400 hectares. As for Peninsular Malaysia, reforestation

activities and rehabilitation of forest land had been done at Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve,

Chikus Forest Reserve, Pasoh Forest Reserve and Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve (Hamzah et

al., 2009; Arifin et al., 2008). However, there is restricted information available on the

ecological suitability of planted tree species for reforestation activities which were

implemented by the government agencies since these reforestation efforts were only on

experimental basis and in small scale.

2.3 Planting Techniques for Reforestation in Regenerating Tropical Rainforest

There are various methods used to restore the degraded tropical rainforests in

Malaysia. The most common tree planting methods practiced for reforestation purpose is

the enrichment planting technique. Under this enrichment planting technique, there are

several types of plantings such as line planting method, gap planting method and cluster or

nest planting method. Other planting methods are also available such as open space

planting techniques which include open space planting and multi-storied forest planting.

2.3.1 Enrichment Planting Technique

According to Appanah and Weinland (1993), enrichment planting is defined as the

introduction of valuable and high quality indigenous species to poorly stocked logged

forests without eliminating the existing valuable individuals. Enrichment planting in

Malaysia has been motivated by the need to improve regenerating forests for future timber

production, and by the desire to restore and thereby protect degraded unproductive areas

(Appanah and Weinland, 1993; Kollert et al., 1996). For developing areas of enrichment

planting, a detailed understanding of the factors controlling seedling growth and survival is

required. The relationship between dipterocarp seedling performance and light availability

has been studied in numerous species and is reasonably well known (Ashton et al., 1997).

As saplings, potential plantation dipterocarp species vary from moderately to very shade

tolerant. In field trials, rates of dipterocarp growth and survival are consistently better in

moderate light levels than in the understory of either primary or secondary forest (Raja

Barizan and Appanah, 2000). Advantage of enrichment planting is that local vegetation

such as some kind of pioneer tree can provide optimal shade condition for dipterocarp

which is well known as shade tolerant when they are sapling (Adjers et al., 1995). Among

the principal species used in enrichment planting is the common faster growing and shade

tolerant Dipterocarps such as Shorea spp., Parashorea tomentella and Dryobalanops

beccarii and Dryobalanops lanceolata.

2.3.1.1 Line Planting Technique

Line planting method is the most popular technique to enrich secondary forests in

the absence of seedlings and saplings on the forest floor. It is significant to determine the

width and the direction of line. For example, if the width of the line is narrow, regeneration

of pioneer vegetation and residual secondary forest cover the line quickly due to the

vigorous recovery of the vegetation in the tropics. Therefore, the lines are determined from

an East to West direction and are 10 m in width to ensure an adequate supply of sunlight

(Kobayashi, 1994). Decisions on line width and time of line opening are matters for

research in particular sites with a particular group of species.

An example from a 15 year trial in Tapah Hill Forest Reserve, Malaysia, showed

that different times of girdling to open the canopy have different effects on growth

performance of Dipterocarp seedlings planted. The treatment adopted for the trial was

poison-girdling of all trees within a zone of 0.9 to 1.8 m on either side of the planting lines.

Based on the result, it was recommended to open the canopy at the time of planting or at

three months after planting (DANIDA, 2005). In Bakam Forest Reserve, line planting

method and cluster or nest planting method was used for tree planting. Manual slashing of

the undergrowth plants along the planting lines was conducted. Lines were cut 5 m apart

and tree seedlings were planted at 5 m interval along the line. Appanah and Weinland

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Faculty of Resource Science and Technology GROWTH ... · I would like to express my heartiest gratitude to my supervisor-in-charge, Dr Mohd. Effendi bin Wasli and my co-supervisor,