THE ROLE OF TREE SPACING IN MINIMISING FUEL LOAD IN <em>ACACIA</em> <em>MANGIUM</em> PLANTATION—A CASE STUDY IN SOUTH SUMATRA, INDONESIA

Abstract

A case study examining the role of tree spacing in minimising fuel load in Acacia mangium plantation showed that close rather than wide spacing tends to reduce fuel load. The lowest fuel load, 13.7 t ha⁻¹, resulting from the closest spacing (2 × 2 m), was still too high, compared to the fuel load reduction necessary to minimise fire risk. This means that reducing fuel load in the plantation will require not only close spacing, but also proper tree maintenance, i.e. weeding and pruning. This should be conducted regularly at 3-month intervals, and 2 × 3 m spacing is also recommended.