In situ and Ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees - ITTO

183Ex situ Conservation of DipterocarpSpecies in West Java and BantenATOK SUBIAKTO, HENDROMONO AND SUNARYOThe Forest and Nature Conservation Research and Development CenterJl. Gunung Batu 5, Bogor 16001, Indonesiaatok_sub@indo.net.idAbstract. Since 1937 the Forest Research Institute, now the Forest and Nature ConservationResearch and Development Center (FNCRDC), has established 11 demonstration forests inWest Java and Banten, eight of which – namely, Darmaga, Cikampek, Pasirhantap, Haurbentes,Yanlapa, Pasir Awi, Cigerendeng and Carita –have collections of dipterocarp species. The collectionof dipterocarps in these demonstration forests consists of 41 species in 5 genera. The origins ofthe dipterocarp species are from the islands of Sumatera, Bangka, Java, Kalimantan, and Maluku.Various studies have been conducted on these demonstration forests including growth and yield,pest and disease resistance, and flowering patterns. Among the potentially fast growing dipterocarpare Shorea leprosula, S. macrophylla, S. selanica, and S. guisso. Currently the dipterocarpstands at these demonstration forests have become important seed sources for planting programsof several dipterocarp species.IntroductionOver 20 million ha of tropical forest in Indonesia has been deforested since theearly 1970’s and has now become unproductive degraded forest (BadanPlanologi Kehutanan 2000). Dipterocarps are the major commercial trees ofthe tropics and the deforestation is threatening the existence of some dipterocarpspecies. The family Dipterocarpaceae, which is naturally spread throughoutthe islands of Indonesia, consists of at least 8 genera and 155 species (Symington1974).Natural regeneration of dipterocarp species in natural forests has alsobeen disturbed due to removal of mother trees by illegal logging. To make theproblem worse, forest fires have destroyed millions of hectares of dipterocarpforests. Finally, the irregularity of flowering and fruiting makes it difficult toobtain seeds. Since the existence of many dipterocarp populations are now indanger, an awareness to save the last scattered dipterocarp populations mustbe generated nationwide, and quick action, such as establishing conservationareas must be taken before the species disappear.Genetic conservation can be accomplished either in situ or ex situ.Currently there is an increasing trend of encroachment and illegal logging evenin conservation areas such as National Parks. In situ conservation areas have