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

234- lowland rain forest- heath forest, associated with sandy soils of low quality- sub-mountain forest, mainly between 1000 m and 2000 m above sea level- mountain rain forests mainly over 2000m above sea level- deciduous forest- dry land forest, savanna forest in semi arid areas- tidal forest- swamp forest- peat forest, on organic soils with peat layers of at least 50 cm.- coastal forest on the beaches and dunes- mangrove forestBased upon their utilization, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry classifiedour forests as follows:a. Protection Forest 30 million hab. Conservation and Recreational Forest 19 million hac. Production Forestpermanent34 million halimited30 million had. Conversion Forest 31 million haGrand total 144 million ha.Indonesia is part of the Malesian Region and the Malesian Rain Forestsare among the richest in the world in term of the number of tree species. Oneof their most important features is the abundance of valuable dipterocarp trees,particularly in the western region of the country (Sumatra and Kalimantan).Seasonal monsoon forests are found in Central and East Java and in NusaTenggara, with savanna grassland in Nusa Tenggara and southern Irian Jayaand non-dipterocarp lowland forests and alpine vegetation types in Irian Jaya.Indonesia’s 144 million ha of natural forests are the world’s most biologicallydiverse (500 species of mammals, 1500 species of birds, and 10,000 species oftrees) and represent 10% of the world’s dwindling tropical rain forest. Theyare vital for Indonesia’s economic development, providing for most of ourdomestic wood demand as well as US$3.8 – 5.95 billion annually in woodproduct exports. The forests are also important for sustaining agriculture, andfor soil and water conservation. Due to various factors such as logging operation,conversion to other land uses, fires, forest encroachment, and shifting cultivation,the forest resources in this country have suffered from degradation anddeforestation at an unprecedented rate (Hardiyanto & Na’iem 2001).