Research Experiences on Eucalyptus in Indonesia - Irfan Budi Pramono and Ag. Pudjiharta

Forest Research and Development Center Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia.

ABSTRACT

Government policy will rapidly increase eucalypt plantations for industrial wood use; end use is in pulp and rayon products. Eucalypt is favoured on its rapid growth, indigenous origin and multipurpose use. It will be planted on marginal or critical lands, under agroforesty systems (especially on Java) and species used based on trials and feasibility studies. Introductions commenced in 1879-82; plantation area to date is limited. Plantations are expected to improve rural income status; community response to eucalypt varies, in part influenced by media reports; concerns include: reduced stream discharge, stream water pollution from pulp industry discharge, loss of soil fertility, soil toxicity, etc. As the genus is indigenous, environmental problems are not anticipated; studies indicate: rainfall percolation increased from P. merkusii to E. urophylla to Schima wallachii; eucalypt uses less water than Pinus merkusii; no significant difference was found in soil nutrient content under eucalypt plantation and agricultural crops; suitability studies are considered necessary before large scale plantings are made. Research findings need wide media dissemination.

Key words: Eucalyptus, Indonesia, industrial plantations, soil fertility, pollution, wildlife, habitat, information dissemination.

INTRODUCTION

Historical background of Eucalyptus in Indonesia

Indigenous species of eucalypt are found in the eastern parts of Indonesia, such as E. deglupta (from Celebes island), E. urophylla and E. alba (from East Nusa Tenggara), and E. pellita (from West Papua).

Eucalyptus was introduced to Java from Australia (E. globulus Labill) in 1800. It was planted along the road at Pasuruan, East Java at altitude 1,730 m or higher above sea level. During 1879-1882; eucalypt was imported not only from Australia but also from East Indonesia. At that time, the eucalypt was used for “regreening”, especially at mountainous areas in Central Java such as at Dieng, Mount Sumbing, and Mount Sundoro. Eucalypt was planted at Mount Lawu and Ngawi (East Java) in 1911 (Suhaendi & Djapilus, 1978).

The Forest Research and Development Center (FRDC) conducted research on site and species trials of eucalypts imported from Australia and eastern Indonesia. The eucalypts were planted at four special experiment stations in West and East Java. The result of this experiment shows that E. deglupta, E. alba, and E. urophylla grew well at the experiment stations. Forest Research recommended that these eucalypts can be developed in other areas in Indonesia. E. deglupta grows from altitude 0~2,500 m and E. urophylla grows at 200~3,000 m (Webb et al., 1984).

PRESENT SITUATION OF EUCALYPT PLANTATIONS IN INDONESIA

Species

Some species are planted for developing the timber estate in Indonesia. The species are E. deglupta, E. alba, E. urophylla, E. pellita, E. saligna, and E. grandis. Other species trials were conducted by FRDC at some experimental stations in Java. Detail of the physical conditions and the growth and yield of some eucalyptus species at the experimental stations is shown in Figure 1. This Figure also gives information on altitude, soil type and annual rainfall. Figure 2 gives information on diameter and height growth of some eucalypts.

Figure 1. Physical conditions of some experimental forest stations in Indonesia

Source: Anonymous (1987).

Figure 2. Diameter (cm) and Height (m) of E. deglupta, E. urophylla, and E. Alba (15-year) at some experimental stations

Source: Anonymous (1987). D: Diameter H: Height

Another experiment was reported by Suhaendi and Djapilus (1978). They presented height growth of eucalypt species at three experimental stations in Java (Pasirhantap, Cikampek, and Sumberwringin). Eucalyptus deglupta has good performance at the three locations. At Sumberwringin, the height was 11.5 m at age of two years. Eucalyptus saligna and E. robusta have good performance at Sumberwringin; the height was 6.6 m and 8.6 m respectively at 2 years. The detailed results are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Eucalyptus species at three experimental stations in Java

Source: Suhaendi and Djapilus (1978), (-) = unplanted (+) = unsuccessful

Area and growing stock

Eucalyptus species are planted in Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan. Unfortunately, eucalypt planting is still in trial sites, therefore the plantation area is limited.

Inti Indorayon Utama, one of private forest companies, has developed eucalypt since 1987. At present, this company has planted around 30,000 ha of eucalypt in North Sumatra, species of which consist of E. urophylla, E. saligna, and E. grandis. At the age of three year, the mean annual increment of these eucalypts was 19 m³/ha/yr (Anonymous, 1993).

Major uses

Eucalypts are used for pulp and rayon industries. One of these industries was established at North Sumatra by Inti Indorayon Utama in 1985. For a time being, they continue to use Pinus merkusii as a raw material for pulp and rayon. However, as they started to plant eucalypts (E. urophylla, E. saligna, and E. grandis as mentioned above) since 1987, they have increased the production capacity of pulp to 165,000 ton/yr. They expect to further increase its production to 500,000 ton/yr for pulp and 54,000 ton/yr for rayon (Anonymous, 1993).

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF EUCALYPT PLANTATIONS

Economic aspects

The population of Indonesia had rapidly increased at the average annual rate of 1.8% during 1980-90 as done unemployment. Therefore, the Government recognized that more job opportunities should be created particularly in the private sector. In the forestry sector, it was thought that the problem could be solved by developing timber estates. Eucalypt was listed as one of the species used in these timber estates.

The development of eucalypt plantations needs much labor for planting and stand maintenance. This labor could come from surrounding area, or outside. This activity will create job opportunities not only for plantation itself, but also for service and trade in the communities. The establishment of pulp and rayon industries, also requires labor. These movements can create many job opportunities, not only for low level jobs but also at high levels. Under these conditions, developing eucalypts can increase the income of the people.

Social aspects

As far as experienced in Indonesia, the responses and reactions of rural communities to eucalypts are not uniform. In some cases, the local people do not agree with eucalypt plantations. They are influenced by reports from other people or news from other countries that, eucalypts will reduce stream discharge, reduce soil fertility, cause soil toxicity, etc. At North Sumatra, for example, some people disagree with changing forest types from P. merkusii to E. deglupta. They are concerned with the negative effects of eucalypt plantations, even though Pudjiharta (1986) reported that P. merkusii consumes more water than eucalypts. Their complaint stands on field observations rather than scientific research. One of such reactions is from the water pollution in a stream which is caused by the pulp industry, because the local people use this water for their daily life. Thus, their complaint against the pulp industry often turns to the use of eucalypt as raw material.

In other locations, the local people do not give any comments or reactions against eucalypt plantations. It seems that they do not have any problems with eucalypt plantations or the problems have yet to surface. Since eucalypt plantations in the country have been started for only a few years, a survey on their social and economic impacts has yet to be made.

ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Soil degradation

A research work carried out at Cikole, north from Bandung, showed that eucalypt did not reduce soil fertility (Purwanto, 1992). It was found that nutrient contents of soil under E. deglupta and E. microcorys were not lower than other species such as Agathis dammara (Syn. Agathis alba) as shown in Figure 4.

Gintings (1993) conducted research on surface run-off and soil erosion under eucalypt plantation. He reported that surface run-off from eucalypt plantation is very low, it was only 0.6% of rainfall from terraced area, while from non-terraced area was 1.7%. The soil erosion at terraced areas was as low as 2.8 ton/ha/yr, while at non-terraced areas, it was much higher, 22.8 ton/ha/yr as shown in Figure 5.

Gintings (1993) also analyzed the nutrient contents of the soil under eucalypt plantation and agriculture area. He found that there are no significant difference of nutrient contents between them, except for Ca and Mg. In the agriculture area, these elements (Ca and Mg) are twice that in the eucalypt plantation (Figure 6).

Figure 4. Nutrient content under Eucalyptus microcorys, E. deglupta, and Agathis dammara at Cikole, Bandung, West Java.

Source: Purwanto (1992).

Figure 5. Surface run-off and soil erosion under E. alba at Garut, West Java, Indonesia

Source: Gintings (1993).

Figure 6. Chemical analysis of soil under agriculture land and E. alba at Garut, West Java

Source: Gintings (1993).

Ground water

Pudjiharta (1986) conducted research on percolation from some tree species (Pinus merkusii, Schima wallichi, and Eucalyptus urophylla) using a lysimeter. Each species was planted on the lysimeter, 12 m² (4m x 3m) and 2 m depth. On each lysimeter, there were 12 stands of P. merkusii, 18 stands of S. wallichi, and 8 stands of E. urophylla. The lowest percolation came from P. merkusii (35% of rainfall), the highest percolation came from S. wallichii (75% of rainfall). The percolation from E. urophylla was about 55% of rainfall (Figure 7). Based on these results, the percolation from E. urophylla was moderate. Therefore, the ground water under E. urophylla plantation should not decrease extremely. If an area had been planted to P. merkusii and then changed to E. urophylla, the ground water should increase as E. urophylla uses less water than P. merkusii.

Figure 7. Percolation from some tree species using a lysimeter at Bandung, Indonesia

Source: Pudjiharta (1986)

Pudjiharta (1992) has also conducted research on percolation from some tree species of Eucalyptus (E. deglupta, E. alba, and E. trianta) using lysimeters. At age three, the percolation of these eucalypts was not significantly different with the previous research of E. urophylla. The average percolation of E. deglupta, E. alba, and E. trianta was 53%, 48%, and 47% of rainfall respectively.

Wildlife

Research on wildlife and forest plantation was conducted by Mukhtar and Iskandar (1992) at a timber estate in Jambi Province. The forest plantation consist of E. deglupta (22 ha), E. urophylla (330 ha), and Acacia mangium (526 ha). At the age of two years, the average diameter of E. deglupta, E. urophylla, and A. mangium was 7.4cm, 7.69cm, 9.14cm respectively. While the average height of E. deglupta, E. urophylla, and A. mangium was 7.2 m, 9.32 m, 8.64 m respectively.

Figure 8. Wildlife (mammalia) in plantation forest and natural forest at Jambi Province

Note: NF = Natural Forest, PF = Plantation Forest
Source: Mukhtar, A.S., Iskandar, S. (1992).

An inventory was made of wildlife including mammalia, aves and reptilia in natural and plantation forest. They concluded that wildlife variation in plantation forests was acceptable. For example, 10 of 18 species of mammalia, 14 of 35 species of aves and 4 of 5 species of reptiles lived in the plantation forest (Figures 8, 9 and 10).

Figure 9. Wildlife (aves) in natural and plantation forest at Jambi Province

Source: Mukhtar, A.S., Iskandar, S. (1992).

Figure 10. Wildlife (reptilia) in natural forest and plantation forest at Jambi Province

Source: Mukhtar, A.S., Iskandar, S. (1992).

GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ON EUCALYPTUS PLANTATIONS

The Government of Indonesia is developing timber estates to increase forest sector wood products. Wood industries are increasing rapidly; they need more than 40 million m³ of wood production per year. This amount cannot be supplied from the country’s natural forests alone, therefore Indonesia should develop timber estates. Eucalypt is one of the tree species which are used in timber estates. The eucalypt products are used in pulp and paper industries while Dipterocarpaceae is used in wood industries. Government policies are to continue to plant eucalypt as it is fast growing; some species are indigenous. Eucalypt can be used as a multi-purpose species.

The Government programs on eucalypt plantation are to plant eucalypts on timber estate areas, in marginal or critical lands and in agroforestry systems especially in Java. The type of species used in a particular area is determined by feasibility studies and site/species trials. These programs are executed by private companies with forest concession areas and State Forest Corporations (Perhutani and Inhutani). Some of the companies are conducting site/species trials; others have planted eucalypt on a small scale.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1 Some eucalypt species can be developed in Indonesia without causing environmental degradation as some are indigenous and in such locations do not cause environmental problems.

2. Water use by eucalypts is less than that used by Pinus merkusii. The assumption that eucalypt use much more water than other species is not totally correct.

3. Other environmental impacts by eucalypt plantations should be investigated in more detail and comprehensively. The results of research from laboratory, if possible, should be field tested tried before notifying the public.

4. Before planting eucalypts on a large scale, land suitability studies should be made in order to reduce environmental impact or degradation.

5. The results of research on eucalypt plantation are recommended to be published not only in scientific journals, but also in newspapers, magazines, television, etc.

REFERENCES

Anonymous. 1987. Pertumbuhan Jenis Eucalyptus spp dan Shorea spp. Proyek Perencanaan dan Pengendalian Timber Estate Pusat. Bogor.

Anonymous. 1993. Pengalaman-Pengalaman Lapangan Tentang Penanama Eucalyptus spp. Inti Indorayon Utama. Medan, North Sumatra.

Gintings, A.N. 1993. Pengaruh Penanaman Eucalyptus terhadap Hidroorologi di DAS Waspada. Draft report. Unpublished.

Mukhtar, A.S. and Iskandar, S. 1992. Keaneragaman Flora Pohon dan Satwa Liar di HTI dan Hutan Alam calon HTI P.T. Wirakarya Sakti. Propinsi Jambi.

Pudjiharta, A. 1986. Responses of some tree species on water conservation at Ciwidey, South Bandung. Forest Research Bulletin 472: 41-57. (Indonesian).

Pudjiharta, A. 1992. Water consumption for Eucalyptus species. Forest Research Bulletin. 553: 1-8. (Indonesian).

Purwanto, I. 1992. Effects of Forest Plantation of Alnus sp., E. microcorys, P. merkusii, A. dammara, and E. deglupta on soil properties. Forest Research Bulletin. 552: 1-10. (Indonesian).

Suhaendi, H and Djapilus, A. 1978. The selection of Eucalyptus spp in the reforestation effort and development prospect in the regions. Lembaran Pengembangan No. 2. Forest Research Institute. Bogor

Webb, D.B., Wood, P.J., Smith, J.P., Henman, G.S. 1984. A Guide to Species Selection for Tropical and Sub-Tropical Plantations. Tropical Forestry Papers No.15. Unit of Tropical Silviculture, Commonwealth Forestry Institute, University of Oxford.