Forest regeneration at Pondok Ambung - a year after the fires.
Category: Forest Fires, Other wildlife, Pondok Ambung Research Station, Tanjung Puting National Park (TPNP) | Date: Mar 18 2009 | By: orangutanfoundation
About a year ago, almost seven hectares of forest behind the Pondok Ambung Research Station was burnt to the ground (see post Fires in Tanjung Puting National Park). This was attributed to human carelessness (not the Pondok Ambung staff, we should note!), and favourable dry conditions. A burnt forest patch however, when left alone, regenerates and a vegetation survey was conducted in February 2009, at the burnt area, to see what had indeed grown back.
Field manager for Pondok Ambung, Mr. Devis, noted that the dominant plant types in the recovering burnt area are the ferns, or more specificially the Gleichenia linearis (tree fern) and Lycopodium cernuum (club moss).
Lycopodium cernuum (club moss)
The grasses and sedges are also growing back (Digitaria ischaemum, Sorghum halepense, Pennistrum purpureu, Eleocharis parvula, Cyperus kyllingia, Cyperus distans and Cyperus paniceus), along with the shrubs (Melastoma malabathricum, Ochthocharis borneensis, Achasma coccineum Val. Blumea balsamifera).
The trees as well are making a comeback (Schima wallichii korth, Garcinia sp, Rhodamina cinerea, Eugenia sp, etc.). The evergreen tree (Schima wallichii korth) dominates the rest of the tree types.
Schima wallichii korth is the dominant tree species
It’s not just good news for vegetation – the newly growing area is also attracting deer who favour open habitats for grazing.
Deer track
We will continue to monitor the changes of this recovering burnt area. With each new seedling pushing its way through the soil, one is reminded that this damaged patch of forest, as with the other fire-damaged forests elsewhere in Borneo, could come back to life, if it is left alone.
The forest just after the fire.
Forest recovery one year on. All photos by Devis Rachmawan.
Thank you very much Nicole D and Tal B for your recent donations. We are currently trying to raise $250-300 to buy two digital cameras (see post Meet our new vet for the orangutans of Lamandau Wildlife Reserve).
Thank you,
June Rubis
Tags: Borneo, Forest Fires, Orangutans, regeneration
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Donations Received
- Nov 16th Frances B. USD137.50
- Nov 10th Nicole D. USD22.00
- Nov 10th Bonnie D. USD22.00
- Nov 3rd Matthew K. USD35.00
- Oct 19th Brigitta S. USD20.00
- Oct 15th Tal B. USD22.00
- Oct 3rd Matthew K. USD35.00
- Sep 19th Brigitta S. USD20.00
- Sep 15th Tal B. USD22.00
- Sep 3rd Matthew K. USD35.00
- Aug 22nd Gerhard R. USD20.00
- Aug 21st Helen N. USD15.00
- Aug 19th Brigitta S. USD20.00
- Aug 17th Jenny O. USD8.25
- Aug 17th David B. USD16.50
- Aug 15th Tal B. USD22.00
- Aug 11th Brigitta S. USD100.00
- Aug 3rd Matthew K. USD35.00
- Jul 19th Brigitta S. USD20.00
- Jul 15th Tal B. USD22.00
3 Responses to “Forest regeneration at Pondok Ambung - a year after the fires.”
sheryl, washington, dc, on 18 Mar 2009
Wow, that is a remarkable change from the fire photo. The deer disperse seeds in their poop, right? Also good to see them coming around.
s.
Kees and Rachel, on 19 Mar 2009
Hello June,
We are 2 dedicated volunteers from Holland. We worked in the Lamandau area with OF-UK in 2007 and we worked at OCCQ in 2008. This year we plan to arrive on May 23th to work/help at OCCQ again. Regarding the camera’s we can offer you to bring 2 digital camera’s with us to Pangkalanbun when we arrive. A Canon S50 and a Nikon Coolpix L11 (with AA batteries). Not brand new but working perfectly (CF and SD cards and all cables and stuff included). Please mail us to work things out. Hoping to meet you there. Regards.
Kees and Rachel
Nicole, on 25 Mar 2009
My pleasure for the donation June I was glad to help out and I appreciate your thanks as well that was very nice of you! I actually helped raise the funds by selling stainless steel water bottles to the staff and students at the high school I work at. When we calculated the money we raised the students chose conservation and wildlife organizations to donate to. I was very happy when they chose the orangutan foundation through Wildlife direct! That was very exciting! I am so happy to see that Kees and Rachel will be bringing two digital cameras so that way you can use the $200 for something else! Take care
xoxox
nicole
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