Seca Gandaseca

In rapidly urbanising tropical landscapes, small sections of forest on campuses provide space for the protection of biological variety, learning in the field and the observation of ecological systems. For this study, researchers measured the variety of tree species plus the arrangement of the community within the UCS Forest at UiTM Puncak Alam, Malaysia. To collect data, five squares measuring 20 meters by 20 meters were placed along a line that started at a random point. When the researchers found woody plants, they counted the individuals, measured the width of the trunks at the height of a person's chest and determined the species - looking at physical forms, pictures, and also books. By using richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson diversity & Pielou evenness, the researchers measured how many species were present and how they were distributed. As part of the examination of the community structure, the study also included rank abundance analysis, clustering with the Bray-Curtis method, heatmaps, indicator species analysis, as well as non-metric multidimensional scaling. There are 146 woody individuals in the records, and those plants belong to 73 species and 28 families. In each square, the number of species is between 17 and 27, or the Shannon-Wiener diversity values are between 2.69 and 3.26. If one looks at the Simpson diversity values of 0.89 - 0.96 and the Pielou evenness values of 0.87 - 0.99, it is clear that no single species is much more numerous than others; the distribution is balanced. By using multivariate analyses, the researchers found that the squares contain different groups of plants, which shows that the area is not uniform. Due to the results, the UCS Forest likely has a level of tree variety that is not low, and the area is a useful place for the campus to protect nature plus study ecology.

Lake Toba is the world's largest caldera lake, located in North Sumatra Province. Lake Toba is the largest lake in Indonesia, designated as one of the National Super Priority Destinations. The beauty of Lake Toba and its abundant natural resources are the main attractions for nature tourism activities. One strategic way to develop it is by offering unique nature tourism with a creative management approach. A creative approach to nature tourism management is essential for preserving culture, natural resources, and the role of local communities. This study aims to identify the distribution and development of creative nature tourism practices, as well as the factors that influence the appeal of creative nature tourism in the outer ring road of Lake Toba, specifically the Aek Nauli-Merek section. This study uses a mixed method by combining a qualitative descriptive analysis model to support quantitative analysis (as the main approach) through multiple linear regression tests to identify factors that influence the appeal of creative nature tourism. This study found that only 11 of the 49 natural tourist attractions along the Aek Nauli–Merek section, Lake Toba, offer creative attractions such as flying fox, tree houses, cargo nets, Burma Bridge, suspension bridges, hanging swings, tree cages, pottery swings, tree homestays, king kong rides, and unique selfie spots. Among the seven predictor factors tested, only the use of technology, pricing, and uniqueness significantly influence the attractiveness of creative natural attractions. These findings suggest that destination managers should prioritize these factors to increase visitor interest, guide marketing strategies, and ensure sustainable tourism development in the Lake Toba region, North Sumatra, Indonesia, and other similar regions.

Forests play a critical role in the global carbon cycle by storing vast amounts of biomass, which acts as a carbon reservoir, helping to mitigate climate change. Biomass in forests includes all living plant material, such as trees, branches, leaves, and roots, which absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it as organic carbon. This carbon storage capacity varies among forest types, species composition, and ecological conditions. Accurately measuring forest biomass and carbon stocks is essential to understanding the potential of forests to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Forest ecosystems provide vital environmental services by maintaining carbon pools in biomass and soil, supporting biodiversity, and producing oxygen. Recent research highlights that different forest types, including mangroves, tropical, and temperate forests, contribute uniquely to carbon sequestration through their biomass dynamics. Effective forest management and conservation strategies rely on robust biomass and carbon data to support climate action frameworks like REDD+ and carbon markets. By valuing and protecting forest carbon stocks, we can advance sustainable forest use and contribute significantly to climate change mitigation and ecosystem health. This publication serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding forest biomass and carbon science, measurement techniques, and their essential role in global environmental sustainability.

Nutrients in sandy soil are limited due to low absorption capacity and are easily leached or evaporated. Biosilica and humic acid extracted from compost and husk ash can improve the soil structure and absorption capacity to optimize the availability and uptake of nutrients. Therefore, this research aims to examine the optimal application dose of biosilica and humic acid to improve the chemical properties of soil with a sandy texture. The experiment was structured based on a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor 1 consisted of biosilica doses of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 tons ha-1, while factor 2 comprised humic acid doses of 0, 20, 40, and 60 kg ha-1. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test, correlation, and determination analysis. The study results indicate that the combination of biosilica and humic acid contributes to the changes in nutrient availability. The impact of the treatment was observed 90 days after application on the parameters of soil pH, organic C, total N, and exchangeable K. The effects of the treatment were also evident in plant nutrient uptake, specifically in total N in the roots and total K in the stems. The optimal combination for improving soil nutrient availability and nutrient uptake in plant tissues was a biosilica dose of 1.0 tons ha-1 (S2) and humic acid at 40 kg ha-1 (H2).

C. sintoc is a plant that has a high essential oil content. Essential oils have many health benefits. Mount Ciremai National Park is an area that has abundant vegetation, especially C. sintoc. The purpose of this study was to predict the volume of oil contained in the leaves of C. sintoc based on its growing location in Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC), West Java. Sampling was carried out in two stages, namely field samples and laboratory samples. Field samples with a single plot measuring 20 x 20 meters. Extraction of laboratory samples by steam distillation method. Data analysis using ANFIS method to predict the volume of essential oil. The results showed that the volume of essential oil in the leaves was largest on the western slope (1,96 ml), northern slope (2,01 ml), eastern slope (1,55 ml) and southern slope (1,37 ml) while the essential oil yield of extract oil in the leaves is found on the western slope (0,08%), northern slope (0,07 %), eastern slope (0,06 %) and southern slope (0,04), On the western slope (1,82 ml), northern slope (1,73 ml). The ANFIS analysis results showed a prediction accuracy of 90,99% with the highest tree productivity when C. sintoc BL grows at an altitude of 650-700 meters above sea level, tree diameter of 42 cm, height of 12 m, growing on sand-textured land and at a humidity of 75 and at a growing temperature range of 25-270C. The value of essential oil production volume is influenced by each variable such as tree diameter, tree height, soil texture, altitude, temperature and humidity.

Open access peer-reviewed chapter

Felling of natural forest trees in West Papua Province is carried out mechanically using a chainsaw by applying a selective cutting silviculture system. This study aimed to determine the elements of working time, productivity, and cost of felling as well as factors influencing felling activities using the chainsaw in the tropical natural forests in West Papua, Indonesia. The felled trees are dominated by the meranti wood species group with a minimum diameter of 45 cm. The average volume of the felled tree is about 4.205 m³/tree. The result showed that total felling time ranged from 15.3 to 18.3 min/tree with an average of 16.7 min/tree. The effective felling time was 11.8 min/tree (70.86%) and the delay time was 4.9 min/tree (29.14%). Felling time in making undercuts was on average 1.7 min/tree (9.98%), longer than back cuts time of 1.10 min/tree (6.39%). Total felling time was influenced by various variables: tree diameter, buttress height, and slope. Felling productivity was accounted for between 14.901 m³/h and 17.067 m³/h (15.778 m³/h on average). Felling costs ranged from 3.366 USD/h to 3.473 USD/h with an average of 3.407 USD/h or equivalent to 0.209 USD/m³ to 0.238 USD/m³ with an average of 0.225 USD/m³. To improve the effectiveness of felling time and productivity, this study suggests (1) upgrading the skills of the chainsaw operators through formal or in-house training in felling techniques, and (2) ensuring chainsaw operators bring a tree distribution map completed by field conditions information.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of four different elevations on Acacia mangium volume in Bintulu, Sarawak. A total of 60 felled trees of A. mangium were used to develop a volume equation by measuring the volume at four different classes of elevation. The study of stand volume estimation in Malaysian plantations, particularly in Bintulu, is sparse. To get the average cross-sectional area, the volume of each tree in each part of the felled trees was estimated using Smalian’s and Newton’s formulas. Four equations were developed in this study to predict the volume from the diameter and analyze the effect of elevation on tree volume. According to the regression analysis, there was a significant relationship between the volume and diameter for each slope steepness. The Very Slope site had the highest volume with an R² value of 0.948 for the model’s fit, which revealed that 94.8% of the data could be evaded. Volume estimation using the regression model can be used to determine and categorize according to its class of elevation, and there is an effect of elevation on standing volume. A. mangium has better growth performance in a very slope area in terms of tree volume compared to different elevations.

The practice of timber harvesting in natural forests which has been conducted up to now still leaves wood harvesting residue and residual stand damage. Most condition of wood harvesting residue is still good and can be utilized. The objective of this research was to determine the potency of wood harvesting residue and residual stand damage on timber harvesting in natural forests. The data on wood utilization, wood harvesting residue, and residual damage were collected from three sample plots. The sample plots were arranged in a systematic and purposive manner, and the data were processed with tabulation and average analysis. Research results showed that the average volume of wood being utilized was 9.212m³ tree⁻¹. The average volume of wood harvesting residues was 2.310m³ tree⁻¹, and the total average volume of wood harvesting residues which were good, defected, and broken was 2.121m³ (80.952), with an average volume for good wood harvesting residue condition of 1.038m³ (34.808). Proportions of wood harvesting residues were 2.154m³ (94.444) consisting of buttress as large as 0.102m³ (5.159), stumps as large as 0.375m³ tree⁻¹ (23.597), butt as large as 0.855m³ (35.930), and end part as large as 0.821m³ (29.758). The average number of trees with a diameter of 20cm which were damaged due to felling and skidding was 5trees ha⁻¹ (5.40) and 6trees ha⁻¹ (6.58), respectively.