Effect of Reduced Impact Timber Harvesting on Carbon Mass in

Tropical Rain Forest, North Kalimantan, Indonesia

Muhdi

, Elias

, Daniel Murdiyarso

, Juang Rata Matangaran

Department of Forest Management, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Department of Forest Management, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia

Keywords: Carbon Mass, Forest Degradation, Reduced Impact Timber Harvesting.

Abstract: The improvement of forest management through reduced impact timber harvesting (RITH) techniques can

be minimized forest degradation. The aimed of this research was found potency of carbon content and

carbon mass in tropical rain forest after forests harvesting. Study site is located in license for utilization of

timber forest products areas of PT Inhutani II, North Kalimantan. There were three research blocks as a

follows : (a). Conventional timber harvesting blocks; (b) reduced impact timber harvesting blocks; and (3)

virgin forests. The research showed that the carbon content on stems of tree was 253.31 kg or 71.14% of

total tree carbon. Potency carbon mass in the conventional timber harvesting blocks was 99.16 Mg C ha

-1

in the reduced impact timber harvesting was 139.17 Mg C ha

-1

, and in virgin forest was 159.44 Mg C ha

-1

respectively. This research indicated that carbon mass in the tropical rain forests caused after conventional

timber harvesting blocks is lower when compared to the reduced impact timber harvesting blocks.

1 INTRODUCTION

One of emissions reduction scheme that is being

developed is Reducing Emissions from

Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

Better forest management through the

implementation of sustainable forest management in

line with climate change mitigation efforts. One of

them is the improvement of forest management and

harvesting policies and technologies to improve

existing forest capacity for carbon sequestration and

storage. REDD + as a general concept that includes

a variety of actions locally, nationally and globally

to reduce emissions caused by deforestation and

forest degradation, and enhance forest carbon stocks

in developing countries (Angelsen et al., 2011). To

minimize the impact of climate change, efforts are

needed to stabilize the concentration of CO

in the

atmosphere. In this protocol, afforestation and

reforestation taken into account as a source of

carbon sinks whose activities included within the

framework of the CDM (Clean Development

Mechanism).

Timber harvesting and silvicultural measures in

natural forests, which until now carried out by

holders result in damage to remaining trees, changes

in the composition and structure of forest vegetation,

residual stand, soil and land openness (Elias, 1999).

Those changes resulted in the ability of the forest

vegetation to absorb or release carbon in the

atmosphere. The growth of tropical secondary forest

vegetation responds quickly to changes in

environmental conditions. Slashing and canopy

treatments both have the potential to improve

survival, height and biomass increment of under-

planted dipterocarp seedlings (Rommel et al., 2008).

Reduced impact timber harvesting is being

promoted as practices forestry that increase

sustainability and lowers CO

emissions from

logging, by reducing collateral damage associated

with log transportation. Reduced impact timber

harvesting is to minimize the impact of selective

forest harvesting on biodiversity (Bicknell et al.,

2015). Muhdi et al. (2016)

reported that logging

activities contribute to changes in species diversity.

Another research reported that reduced impact

timber harvesting did not affect the biodiversity and

species composition but also abundance of

vertebrates (Laufer et al., 2015).

The effect of timber harvesting on biodiversity

and structures and composition of the stand can not

expect from a natural procession of succession, even

Muhdi, ., Elias, ., Mudiyarso, D. and Rata Matangaran, J.

Effect of Reduced Impact Timber Harvesting on Carbon Mass in Tropical Rain Forest, North Kalimantan, Indonesia.

DOI: 10.5220/0009901500002480

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (ICNRSD 2018), pages 279-283

ISBN: 978-989-758-543-2

279

though the area is included in a fixed and unharmed

forest area of humans (Lopes et al., 2012). If

deforestation and forest degradation are not

controlled it is feared wide impact including

increased concentrations of greenhouse gases

(GHGs) in the atmosphere that is causing an

increase in the earth's temperature and climate

change.

Some studies have showed that conventional

timber harvesting (CTH) has a large negative impact

on the residual stand (Elias, 1999; Purwoko et al.,

2018). The reduced impact timber harvesting

(RITH) technique is an attempt to minimize damage,

so that sustainable forest management can be

achieved. On the basis of the description of the

problems presented above, the question arises that

need to be answered in this research is how big is the

carbon stock reserve of tropical natural forest after

harvesting the wood with RITH technique compared

with CTH technique in tropical rain forest? The

aimed of this research was found carbon content and

potency of carbon mass in tropical rain forest after

forest harvesting.

2 METHODS

2.1 Study Site

Study site is located in license for utilization of

timber forest products areas of PT Inhutani II, North

Kalimantan in November – Desember 2010. Analysis

of carbon content was carried out in the Laboratory

of Forest Products Chemistry, Faculty of Forestry,

Bogor Agricultural University in January - April

2011.

There were three resech blocks as a follows : (a).

Conventional timber harvesting blocks; (b) reduced

impact timber harvesting blocks; and (3) virgin

forests. Before logging, all trees 20 cm diameter at

breast height (dbh) (stem diameter at 1.3 m or above

buttresses) were identified with a common name,

dbh was measured, and the trees were tagged.

2.2 Content of Volatile Matter

Procedures determination of volatile matter content

using the American Society for Testing Materials

(ASTM) D 5832-98. The procedure is as follows:

(a). Samples of trees are cut into small parts of a

matchstick; (b). Samples were then roasted at a

temperature of 80 °C for 48 hours; (c). Dried sample

is ground into a powder with a grinding machine

(Willey mill); (d). Milled powder is filtered by

filtering devices (mesh screen) size 40-60 mesh; (e).

Powder with 40-60 mesh size of the test sample as

much as ± 2 g; (f). Test sample is inserted into the

electric furnace temperature of 950 °C for 2 minutes;

(g). The difference in initial weight and final weight

are expressed in percent of the dry weight of the

specimen is a volatile matter content; and (h).

Measurement percent volatile matter on samples

from each part of the tree is performed three

replications.

2.3 The Ash Content

The procedure of determining the ash content using

the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)

D 2866-94. The procedure is as follows: (a). The

remainder of the test sample from the determination

of volatile matter put into the electric furnace

temperature of 900 °C for 6 hours; (b). Further

cooled in eksikator and then weighed to find the

weight eventually; (c). Final weight (ash) is

expressed as a percent of the dry weight of the test

sample furnace ash content of the sample; (d). Ash

content measurement on samples from each part of

the tree is performed three repetitions.

Determination of the carbon content of the test

sample of each part of the tree using the Indonesian

National Standard (SNI) 06-3730-1995, wherein the

carbon content of the sample is the result of a 100%

reduction of the levels of volatile matter and ash

content.

2.4 Carbon Mass of Forests Stands

Carbon trees in the blocks were determined using

allometric equations tree carbon. The total number

of carbon derived from necromass the trees in the

block stated amount of carbon per unit area of the

block. Total carbon potential above ground level

consists of tree carbon, carbon and litter, and carbon

understory.

2.5 Carbon Mass of Understory

Variables understory measured in the field is wet

weight, whereas in the laboratory measured is

moisture, volatile matter content, ash content and

carbon content. Data taken from five plots

measuring 2 m x 2 m. All vegetation of seedlings

and understory in the plot 2 m x 2 m is taken and

weighed to obtain wet weight.

ICNRSD 2018 - International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

280

2.6 Litter and Necromass

Plots were the same litter analysis with analysis of

understory plots. All of the remains of dead parts of

plants, leaves and twigs which fall contained in the

plot, put in a paper bag and labeled. All litter is then

dried in the sun and weighed and then taken sub-

sample of litter as much as 100-300 g of dried in an

oven at a temperature of 80 °C for 48 hours.

Measurement necromass (dead plant parts) on

the surface of the soil. Necromass measurement is

by measuring the diameter and length (height) all

dead trees standing or fallen, the stumps of dead

plants, branches and twigs.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Volatile Substance Levels

The levels of volatile substances and ash content are

part of the chemical properties of the tree. Results of

laboratory analysis showed that the highest rate of

volatile substance was in the leaves (72.35%). The

average volatile content of each part of the sample

tree based on the diameter class can be seen in Table

Table 1: The average volatile substances in the part of tree

sample based on diameter at breast height (DBH).

Diameter

(cm)

Volatile content (%)

Stems

ranch leaves

–

10 46.31 53.87 72.74

–

20 50.55 57.47 71.73

–

30 48.62 56.89 72.43

–

40 48.33 56.47 69.35

–

50 49.78 59.58 73.12

50 - 60 45.89 54.12 73.59

≥ 60 47.32 53.27 73.18

Avera

e 47.93 55.74 72.35

The results of this study are consistent with

(Kusuma, 2009) that in tropical forests of logged-

over West Kalimantan, Indonesia which states that

the largest percent volatile matter are found in leaves

of 66.45% and the smallest content of fly substances

is 52.06%. Similarly, the results of Febrina (2012)

studied in Riau, Sumatera, Indonesia in peat swamp

forests stated that the highest percent volatile matter

was found in leaves of 64.53% and the smallest

content of the substance was found in 34.82% of

stems.

3.2 Content of Ash Substances

Ash is the burning residue of materials containing

organic materials. The organic ingredients are

elements of calcium, potassium, magnesium,

manganese and silicon. The results of the analysis of

ash content of sample trees can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2 showed that the highest average of ash

content is found on leaves of 4.44% and the smallest

ash content is in the stem part of 0.56%.

Table 2: Average of ash content in the part of tree sample

based on diameter at breast height (DBH).

Diameter

(cm)

Ash Content

(

)

Stems

ranch leaves

–

10 0.55 1.68 4.55

–

20 0.62 2.10 4.58

–

30 0.48 1.97 5.37

–

40 0.55 2.12 3.95

–

50 0.46 2.15 4.53

50 - 60 0.59 2.03 3.94

≥ 60 0.70 1.00 4.16

Average 0.56 1.86 4.44

The result of this research is in line with research

of Widyasari (2010) which states that the biggest ash

content is found in leaves of 5.65% and the smallest

in the stalk is 0.63%. Similarly, the research results

Febrina (2012) which states that the largest ash

content is found on the leaves of 5.79% and the

smallest in the stem of 1.04%.

3.3 Carbon Content of Tree Sample

The results of carbon content of sample trees can be

seen in Table 3. In Table 3 showed that the average

carbon content based on the diameter class has

varying carbon content. The largest carbon content

was in the stem section (45.75%) that the average

carbon content range was 40.29 - 53.12%. This is

due to the stem levels has a low volatile and ash

content. In addition to the stems contained cell walls

and accumulation of food reserves in the stem. Then

followed by the branch has 39.51%, with a range of

carbon content 32.64 - 43.85%, roots was 36.66%,

with a range of carbon content 28.85 - 40.09% and

leaves has 19.61%, with an average carbon content

15.31 - 22.58%.

Effect of Reduced Impact Timber Harvesting on Carbon Mass in Tropical Rain Forest, North Kalimantan, Indonesia

281

Table 3: Average carbon content of each part of the

sample tree based on the diameter at breast height (DBH).

Diameter

(cm)

Carbon content (%)

Stems branch

leaves

5 – 10

47.23 42.21 19.01

10 – 20

43.13 40.28 20.40

20 – 30

43.73 36.22 19.00

30 – 40

40.97 41.23 22.58

40 – 50

40.29 32.82 22.35

50 - 60

53.12 43.85 16.19

≥ 60

51.77 32.64 15.31

Average

45.75 38.46 19.26

The smallest level of carbon content in the

leaves is 19.61%, with an average carbon content

range of 15.31 - 22.58% because the leaves have

high levels of fly and ash content. In addition, the

leaves contain only a few wood composite materials

so that the carbon content is stored slightly. The

results of this study are similar to Kusuma (2009)

resulted that the highest average carbon content is on

the base of the stem of 61.62%. Febrina (2012)

which states that the largest carbon content is on the

stem of 63.49%.

3.4 Effect Forest Harvesting on Carbon

Mass

Potency carbon mass in the conventional timber

harvesting blocks was 99.16 Mg C ha

-1

, in the

reduced impact timber harvesting was 139.17 Mg C

-1

, and in virgin forest was 159.44 Mg C ha

-1

respectively. This research indicated that carbon

mass in the tropical rain forests caused after

conventional timber harvesting blocks is lower when

compared to the reduced impact timber harvesting

blocks.

Figure 1 showed that the average carbon mass

above ground level on a block of conventional

timber harvesting, timber harvesting and virgin

forest RITH average of 132.59 Mg C ha

-1

, consisting

of a carbon mass by vegetation amounting to 34.03

Mg C ha

-1

and litter as well as necromass amounted

to 98.56 Mg C ha

-1

Figure 1: Carbon mass in conventional timber harvesting

(CTH), reduced impact timber harvesting (RITH) and

virgin forests.

Carbon mass in conventional timber harvesting

blocks is lower when compared to the blocks of

timber harvesting RITH, that the carbon mass in

conventional timber harvesting and reduced impact

timber harvesting was 99.16 Mg C ha

-1

and 139.17

Mg C ha

-1

, respectively. In conventional timber

harvesting blocks for carbon mass of vegetation

significantly lower than the carbon mass in timber

harvesting RITH blocks were 44.16 Mg C ha

-1

(44.53%) and 106.87 Mg C ha

-1

(76.79% ) of the

total carbon mass, respectively. Carbon mass

derived from litter and necromass compartments

conventional timber harvesting higher than RITH

that were 55.00 Mg C ha

-1

(55.46%) and 32.30 Mg C

-1

(23.21%), respectively. This shows that the

composition of the carbon mass of vegetation and

litter as well as necromass on both blocks of

different timber harvesting. Carbon mass derived

from the vegetation as a result of damage to

remaining trees and understory in a conventional

timber harvesting blocks cause carbon mass

decreased vegetation and litter carbon mass and

increased necromass.

Based on this study, the blocks of timber

harvesting RITH is good enough to keep the carbon

mass in natural tropical forests. This is because the

residual stand damage caused by timber harvesting

can be suppressed so that the residual stand damage

and death due to the continued impact can be

minimized. This research indicates the carbon mass

from conventional timber harvesting activities and

RITH in natural tropical forests.

The carbon mass stock reserve at each study site

ranged 6.82 to 8.41 Mg C ha

-1

. Primary forests have

the highest carbon mass reserve potential of 8.41 Mg

C ha

-1

compared to conventional logged-over areas

and RITH techniques.

100

120

140

160

180

CTH RITH Virgin

forest

Carbon stock (Mg/ha)

Plot

Litter and

Necromass

Vegetation

ICNRSD 2018 - International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

282

The massive contribution of carbon mass of tree

vegetation is due to a positive relationship with tree

diameter size. So the larger the diameter of the tree

causes the higher the carbon mass. Latifah et al

(2018) reported that in North Sumatra obtained total

carbon mass in agroforestry system was 2.88 Mg C

-1

Changes in carbon mass were negetively related

to forest haresting instensity, but any effect or

reduced impact timber harvesting was obscured.

Residual forest stands in logged forests with lower

intensity and continue to decline in high intensity

logged forests (Martin et al., 2015). Establishing

realistic post-harvesting recovery rates is critical for

setting harvest rates that ensure sustainable forest

management and environmentally functioning

(Hawthorne et al., 2012).

4 CONCLUSION

Carbon mass in conventional timber harvesting

blocks is lower when compared to the blocks of

timber harvesting RITH. In conventional timber

harvesting blocks, carbon mass of vegetation was

lower than RITH blocks. The results indicated that

reduced impact timber harvesting is good enough to

maintain a reserve of carbon in tropical rain forests.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to the Directorate General of Higher

Education, the Ministry of Research, Technology

and Higher Education who have provided research

funding. The highest appreciation and sincere

gratitude, the authors also conveyed to the staff and

employees of PT. Inhutani II and PT Kayan Patria

Pratama in Malinau, North Kalimantan for their

cooperation and assistance during the data retrieval.

The authors also thank to Atin Supriatin and

Gunawan who helped analyze carbon content of tree

samples in the laboratory of the Forest Products

Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor

Agricultural University, Bogor.

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