INVENTORY OF INVASIVE PLANTS SPECIES IN CIKANIKI-CITALAHAB, MT. HALIMUN SALAK NATIONAL PARK

• Main Author: Kusuma Fadila, Dian
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/42753
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Conservation areas in Indonesia such as the Mt. Halimun Salak National Park (HSNP) are currently threatened by the presence of invasive species. However, information about invasive plant species is still limited, an inventory of invasive plants is needed as important data for conservation management. Data was collected in June 2019 on the Cikaniki-Citalahab path (natural forest as reference area, ecotourism forest, camping area, and tea plantations). Nested plot measuring 20 × 20 m is placed randomly to record trees (DBH?20cm) and pole (20cm>DBH>10cm). A 10 × 10 m subplot was used to record saplings (DBH<10cm, height>1,5m) and shrubs. 5 × 5 m subplot to record seedlings (DBH<10cm, height<1,5 m) and herbs. The grouping of invasive plants is based on an invasive plant database such as, GISD, ISC CABI, PIER, and A Global Compendium of Weeds. A total of 118 plants species (57 families) are found along this path. However, 25 species (12 families) are classified as invasive species, including some local species from tropical Asia such as Acmella uliginosa, Imperata cylindrica, Kyllinga brevifolia, and Lindernia crustaceae. The tea plantation has the highest number of invasive species (56%), then camping area (21%), ecotourism forests (3%), and natural forests (3%). Most invasive species are found in the form of herbs (68%), then shrubs (20%), and trees (12%). Some of these invasive plants need to be considered well because they have dominated the plant community in HSNP, such as Maesopsis eminii (tree, INP=36,18%), Brugmansia suaveolens (shrub, INP=57,98%), Calliandra calothyrsus (shrub, INP=86,59%), Austroeupatorium inulifolium (shrub, INP=34,97%), Clidemia hirta (herb, INP=14,83%), and Ageratum conyzoides (herb, INP=48,6%). Therefore, it is necessary to manage invasive species in this area to reduce the risk of decreasing local biodiversity in HSNP area.