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

Plantations of fast growing indigenous tree species have been attemptedeither for pulp or for wood. Among those that have been tried on large areasare mangium (Acacia mangium), sungkai (Peronema canescense), and ampupu(Eucalyptus urophylla). The more slow growth native species that have beenidentified as having potential for timber are, among others, sonokeling (Dalbergialatifolia), surian (Toona sureni), kayu hitam (Diospyrus ebenii), and bayur(Pterospermum javanicum).A few tree species have attracted the attention of villagers based onusefulness for village life. Among these species are jeungjing (Paraserianthesfalcataria), terap (Artocarpus elasticus), nyamplung (Callophylluminophyllum) and jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba). These are planted inladang or in backyard gardens. The number of individual trees planted perfamily is of course small, but at the village level the total number can besubstantial.In the Biodiversity National Plan for Indonesia there is a list of animalspecies, including birds and reptiles, that have top priority for conservation(BAPPENAS 1993). Unfortunately, plant species, including timber trees, areabsent from that list. The reason is quite obvious - animals are more attractiveto humans than plant species, so plant conservation is somewhat lagging behindthat for animals. It seems that development of a list of timber species to beconserved is in the hands of the Ministry of Forestry.The future of many native timber species of Indonesia is uncertain.This is due to the recent uncontrolled extraction of trees from the forests followingthe change of the government in 1997. Moreover, the slow process ofdecentralization of governance (autonomy) from the central government toprovinces has caused uncertainty as to who is responsible for, or who has theright to exploit protected areas that have been declared for in situ conservation.The uncertainty has placed several National Parks such as Tanjung Puting(Central Kalimantan), Kutai (East Kalimantan), Kerinci Seblat (in 4 provincesin Sumatera), and Gunung Leuser (North Sumatra) in jeopardy. Timber speciesare the most sought after objects in those forests..To promote in situ conservation of forest tree genetic resources inareas where concessions have been granted, the National Committee on GeneticResources works together with the Association of Forest Concessionaires todesign conservation fields within the concession areas. It was agreed that around200 hectares of forests should be left uncut in each concession area. In thisway there is a remnant of original forest in each locality, which will serve as areference for future studies, as well as a place where seeds of native trees canbe collected. The Committee has developed guidance for the concessionairesto set aside the conservation areas. It would be useful to know how many suchareas are successfully developed and managed at the moment.45