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Rapid Agrobiodiversity Appraisal (RABA)
in the Context of Environmental Service Rewards
VALUE:
Bungo is in a
local
biodiversity
hotspot (3
protected
areas in its
surroundings)
THREATS:
Rapid
deforestation
and
ineffective
protection of
forests
Bungo District in Jambi Area is situated on the south-west of Sumatra between 1º08' and 1º15'
latitude and 101º27' and 102º30' longitude (figure 7). Most of the area (more than 75%) is relatively
flat, and below 500 metres above sea level. The area is the headwaters of the Bungo River
catchment area, one of the contributing watersheds to the Batanghari River, the longest river in
Sumatra.
The focal area that is being promoted for biodiversity conservation is Bungo District. Apart from
the global classification, the ecological importance of Bungo District can be seen from its relative
proximity to the existing government-designed natural reserves. Although the location is not
wholly covered by pristine forest, Bungo District is adjacent to Kerinci Seblat National Park (1.4
million hectares) and, a bit further north, near to Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park (144 000
hectares) and, to the south, near the Bukit Duabelas National Reserve (60 500 hectares). In this
area, endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and the worlds'
biggest flower, the rafflesia (Raflesia arnoldi), persist. Therefore, the area has potential to interconnect
the existing natural reserves (figure 8).
Bungo Area has undergone incredibly rapid forest degradation – about 60% of the forest cover has
disappeared in 35 years (ICRAF data). The remaining forest is considered to be rich in species and
has other characteristics typical of lowland tropical forest, such as leafy tree creepers and bigbuttress-rooted
trees. The loss means that the previously dominant lowland tropical forest in
which abundant biodiversity persisted has been replaced by intensive land-use types. For some
specialist plants and animals, forests are the only habitats in which they can continue to survive,
whereas for generalists, their adaptability to new environments has made them the least
affected by forest degradation.
This indicates that remnant forests and protected areas in Bungo are not conserved adequately.
Habitat for large animals such as Sumatran tigers is limited to 'islands' such as in Bukit Tiga Puluh
National Park. Corridors that enable tigers to roam and inhabit areas outside the national park are
threatened by deforestation and land conversion. Therefore, rubber agroforestry with its high
plant assemblage diversity and dense canopy cover exhibits potential as a 'steeping stone'
providing temporary habitat for endangered species to move between protected areas.
3.1.1 Conservation values of Bungo and rubber agroforests
The type of agroecosystem being promoted as likely to play a role in biodiversity conservation is the rubber agroforest
system known as jungle rubber. In simple terms, jungle rubber is a type of agroforest in which rubber trees (Hevea
brasiliensis) are planted together with fruit trees and timber trees. The site of Bungo District is important for
biodiversity because the jungle rubber plots in the area are able to provide refuges for species from nearby forest.
Research in comparing forest, rubber agroforest and intensive monocultural plantations in Muara Bungo shows that in
comparison with mature forest, jungle rubber has relatively low basal area, a more open canopy and also
Case Study 1: Rubber agroforests in Bungo (Jambi, Indonesia)