ASSESSMENT OF FOREST REGENERATION FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DISTURBANCES IN TWO TYPES OF PRIMARY FOREST AT BUNGO RANGE, BAU, SARAWAK

Abstract

The forest regeneration study was conducted in a mixed dipterocarp forest and a heath forest at Bungo Range, Sarawak to determine the natural regeneration status after a series of forest disturbances. The research objectives were (i) to estimate the tree diversity in mixed dipterocarp forest and heath forest and (ii) to determine the natural regeneration status of dominant tree species with potentials for reforestation. The systematic sampling method using nested plots was conducted, in which three plots were placed at mixed dipterocarp forest and four at heath forest. The species diversity in the mixed dipterocarp forest was H’ = 3.7 and heath forest is H’ = 3.8. Neolamarckia cadamba was found to be the dominant timber-producing species in mixed dipterocarp forest with good regeneration. Likewise, Litsea lancifolia and Calophyllum inophyllum were the dominant timber-producing species with good regeneration in the heath forest. There was only one non-timber producing species with good regeneration, i.e. Goniothalamus uvarioides, from the mixed dipterocarp forest.