VEGETATION ANALYSIS AND DISTRIBUTION OF INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES IN BLOCK CISEMPUR, GUNUNG GEULIS ITB EDUCATIONAL FOREST, SUMEDANG, WEST JAVA

• Main Author: Fahita Gultom, Dinda
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/77654
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The Gunung Geulis Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) boasts a potential flora that is well-distributed across various ecosystems. The high biodiversity in this forest signifies essential ecosystem stability. However, this balance can be disrupted by the presence of foreign species that have the potential to become invasive in the forest area. Such invasions could lead to a reduction in biodiversity value. Therefore, a further analysis of the existing vegetation and the potential invasive species is necessary to establish preventative measures and suitable management strategies. The research was conducted systematically using quadrat plots at every 50-meter increase in altitude. The coordinates of encountered invasive species were recorded with the assistance of GPS technology. The research findings identified three dominant invasive alien species: Calliandra calothyrsus (INP 65.95%) for tree habitus, Chromolaena odorata (INP 145.89%) for shrub habitus, and Imperata cylindrica (INP 13.74%) for herbaceous plants. Utilizing the Maximum Entropy algorithm, the potential distribution of these three species across the entire Gunung Geulis area was estimated to cover 26.82 ha (kaliandra), 33.95 ha (kirinyuh), and 8.02 ha (alang-alang), respectively. Environmental variables that significantly influenced the distribution of these invasive species were aspect, elevation, and slope.