Potensi Karbon Populasi Dehaasia pugerensis di Hutan Tropis Dataran Rendah Nanggelan, Taman Nasional Meru Betiri

Abstract

Meru Betiri National Park (MBNP) is a tropical conservation area that harbors high biodiversity, including the critically endangered endemic species Dehaasia pugerensis. This study aimed to estimate the carbon potential of D. pugerensis populations in the lowland tropical forest of Nanggelan, MBNP. Field data were collected using an exploratory approach. Tree structural parameters, including diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, canopy width, and canopy cover percentage, were measured to estimate tree volume, biomass, and carbon stock using established allometric models. Abiotic environmental variables, including soil pH, soil moisture, air humidity, temperature, and light intensity, were also measured with three replicates in each sampling plot. The population density of D. pugerensis reached 141 individuals/ha, with the highest abundance recorded at the seedling stage, indicating active natural regeneration. The estimated total carbon stock of the population was 7.08 tons/ha, with the largest contribution derived from the tree stratum, highlighting the important ecological role of mature individuals in carbon sequestration. Carbon allocation was dominated by aboveground biomass (5.90 tons/ha), particularly in trunk and canopy components, followed by belowground biomass (1.18 tons/ha). Environmental conditions in the study area were within the suitable ecological range for supporting the growth and regeneration of this species. The findings demonstrate that D. pugerensis contributes significantly to carbon storage and ecosystem sustainability in tropical lowland forests. K