Distribution and Population of Agarwood-Producing Plants in the Sorong Raya Area, West Papua, Indonesia.
Authors: Destri, Daseng Ahmad Samsudin, Eko Susanto, Rustandi, Zaenal Mutaqien, Emus.
Agarwood is a product of trees from the Thymeliaceae family that are infected with fungi and have high economic value.
However, the high demand and the rate of degradation of their natural habitats make these plant species increasingly difficult to find.
Geographical distribution of agarwood in Papua, especially Gyrinops spp. concentrated in Sorong and Nabire.
Information on the existence of this species is very limited, so surveys to reveal species diversity, habitat preferences and gaharu populations in the Sorong Raya area need to be carried out.
This activity is carried out in the following areas:
1. Indigenous Forest (HA) Klaben (Kab. Sorong),
2. HA La Klen (Kab. Maybrat),
3. Natural Tourism Park (TWA) Bariat (South Sorong Regency),
West Papua in February-March 2018. Recording of biotic and abiotic data collection was carried out to obtain an overview of their habitat references.
Population calculations were carried out on 0.5 Ha square footage at each location.
Found 1 species of gaharu-producing plant, Aquilaria filaria.
In general, gaharu-producing plants were found in karst areas with steep contours covered with very high carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) soils with moderate C/N ratios located in South Sorong Regency and Maybrat Regency.
This area is a typical lowland forest of Papua which is dominated by Pometia spp., Myristica spp., and Garcinia sp.
The population density of gaharu-producing plants in this area is estimated to be around 4-8 individuals per hectare.