"The Gunung Gede - Pangrango National Park is known as a reserve for protecting plant and animal diversity, and has been listed as a biosphere reserve by The United Nation for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Floristic composition in this park is very diverse ranging from lowland and mountain forests to sub-alpine vegetation. The forest in the national park does not always have a closed canopy as gaps have been created by both natural forces such as death of trees or windblows and by human activities.
This study was designed to examine: 1) species richness and forest structure at the sapling level; 2) forest regeneration; and 3) potential uses of saplings and seedlings. The study area was located at the forest at Bodogol at the altitude of 800 m above sea level (asl). Saplings were recorded in 25 plots of 10 m x 10 m of each. The study site was located along the hill path. A sapling species inventory was conducted in one-hectare plot, which was divided into 25 subplots of 10 m x 10 m each, where enumeration, measurement of diameter and identification of each sapling were undertaken. Enumeration and identification of shrubs, tree seedlings, herbs and ferns were made in 25 subsubplots of 1 m x 1 m each.
The results indicated that the sapling species richness is remarkably high. The numbers of sapling (< 10 cm diameter at breast height) recorded in 25 plots with total area of 2500 m was 1516, which belong to 83 species and 34 families with total basal area of 0.124 m2. The highest density of 356 saplings per hectare were recorded in Rubiaceae, with two leading spesies Urophyllum arboreum and Paederia foetida. Uropyllum arboreum was recorded as the most frequent sapling across 18 subplots of the total 25 subplots. Lithocarpus elegans, Acer niveum, Villebrunea rubescens, Sterculia oblongata, and Cryptocarya tomentosa were recorded as having the highest basal areas.
Five species were recorded with biggest Importance Value Indexes (INP); Urophyllum arboreum (INP=23.75%), Paederia foetida (INP=13.10%), Villebrunea rubescens (INP=8.94%), Antidesma sp (INP=8.51%), and Persea excelsa (INP=7.88%). Above ground vegetation showed remarkable high species richness with total count 68 species, belonging to 44 families representing 224 individuals recorded in 25 subsubplots with total area of 25 m2. The highest frequency was recorded in Diospyros frutescens, which recorded in 7 subsubplots. Schismatoglottis calyptrata from Araceae family was recorded as the most prominent species.
Twenty five subplots with a total area of 2500 m2 at Bedogol in the national park, 126 species have been identified of having potential uses for traditional medicines, building material, food sources, fire wood, handy craft, and ornamental plants."
Depok: Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam Universitas Indonesia, 2006
