Apriyono Rahadiantoro

Inventarisasi tumbuhan dan struktur vegetasi di Kawasan Hutan Ledug, Tahura R. Soerjo

Introduction

Inventarisasi tumbuhan dan struktur vegetasi di kawasan hutan ledug, tahura r. Soerjo. Penelitian ini menginventarisasi 75 spesies tumbuhan & struktur vegetasi di Hutan Ledug, Tahura R. Soerjo, Jawa Timur, mengungkapkan zona submontana & dominasi pohon Anggrung.

Abstract

Taman Hutan Raya atau Tahura R. Soerjo merupakan ekosistem hutan pegunungan yang masih tersisa di Pulau Jawa, menjadi salah satu habitat alami tumbuhan dilindungi yaitu bunga edelweis, Anaphalis javanica. Secara hidrologis, kawasan Tahura menjadi sumber mata air yang mengaliri beberapa daerah kabupaten di Jawa Timur. Beberapa kawasan Tahura R. Soerjo telah dipilih sebagai lokasi penanaman kembali atau area rehabilitasi, salah satunya Ledug. Kawasan Ledug berada di lereng Gunung Arjuno dan secara administrasi masuk Kelurahan Ledug, Kecamatan Prigen, Kabupaten Pasuruan, Jawa Timur. Kawasan Ledug diketahui rentan mengalami kerusakan hutan yang diakibatkan berbagai faktor, terutama adanya kebakaran hutan. Mengingat pentingnya kawasan Tahura bagi masyarakat Jawa Timur, maka upaya untuk memperbaiki kawasan Tahura yang mengalami kerusakan habitat, perlu dilakukan. Untuk mengatasi hal tersebut maka diperlukan kegiatan inventarisasi dan pendataan vegetasi di wilayah-wilayah yang masih belum terganggu kondisinya atau area hutan alami. Kegiatan penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui jenis tumbuhan dan struktur vegetasi di kawasan Ledug. Kegiatan eksplorasi tersebut berhasil diperoleh sebanyak 44 suku, 67 marga dan 75 spesies tumbuhan. Berdasarkan zona ketinggian, kawasan hutan Ledug termasuk dalam zona submontana dengan karakter umum vegetasi mendekati hutan dataran rendah. Area hutan memiliki struktur vegetasi yang lengkap meliputi strata pohon, tiang dan tumbuhan bawah, keragaman jenis tumbuhan yang sedang serta kerapatan vegetasi pohonnya cenderung jarang dengan dominasi pohon anggrung (Trema orientalis) dan iprek (Ficus virens). Sedangkan pada area rehabilitasi memiliki keragaman tumbuhan rendah dan struktur vegetasi yang didominasi tumbuhan bawah dari suku rumput-rumputan (Poaceae).

Review

This study presents a timely and valuable inventory of plant species and vegetation structure within the Ledug area of Tahura R. Soerjo, an increasingly threatened yet vital mountain forest ecosystem in Java. The abstract effectively highlights the ecological significance of Tahura R. Soerjo as a habitat for protected species like *Anaphalis javanica* and its critical role in regional hydrology. The authors clearly articulate the rationale for their research, pointing to the vulnerability of the Ledug area to damage, particularly forest fires, and the pressing need for rehabilitation efforts. Consequently, establishing a baseline understanding of the existing vegetation becomes imperative, and this study directly addresses that need by aiming to identify plant species and describe their structural composition. The research employed an exploratory approach, successfully identifying a substantial number of flora, comprising 44 families, 67 genera, and 75 species. A key finding is the classification of the Ledug forest as a submontane zone, despite its general vegetation characteristics leaning towards lowland forests. The study differentiates between two distinct areas: the natural forest and rehabilitation areas. The natural forest exhibits a complete vegetation structure with all strata present (tree, pole, understory), moderate species diversity, and a relatively sparse tree density, dominated by *Trema orientalis* and *Ficus virens*. In stark contrast, the rehabilitation area shows low plant diversity and a clear dominance of understory vegetation, specifically from the Poaceae family, suggesting ongoing challenges or specific outcomes of the rehabilitation strategies employed. These findings provide crucial baseline data essential for the effective management and conservation of Tahura R. Soerjo. The detailed inventory and structural analysis offer critical insights into the health and ecological status of both undisturbed and rehabilitated sections within the Ledug area. The observed differences between the natural forest and rehabilitation areas, particularly the low diversity and grass dominance in the latter, highlight the need for tailored and possibly more diverse rehabilitation approaches. This research serves as an important foundation for future ecological studies, monitoring programs, and the development of targeted conservation strategies to mitigate forest degradation and enhance biodiversity in this significant ecosystem.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.