Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at Pt 11675 (854.31 Hectares)
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FLORA AND FAUNA STUDY FOR THE PROPOSED LOGGING AND OIL PALM PLANTATION AT PT 11675 (854.31 HECTARES) IN MUKIM KERATONG DISTRICT OF ROMPIN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR SEPTEMBER 2019 Prepared by Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Azrae Bin Haji Idris Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur EXISTING CONDITION Introduction – Juxtaposition The Proposed Project Site is an area of 854.31 ha (2111.0 acres) located within Mukim Keratong, Daerah Rompin, Pahang. It lies approximately from 2°38’5” N to 2040’0” N latitude to 103°3’15” E to 103°5’32” E longitude. The Felda Selancar complexes lie on its western sides with Felda Selancar 4 and 9 at its border (Fig J1). The Endau Rompin National Park is located about 20 - 25 km in the southeast direction. The area is accessible through Lebuhraya 12 Segamat - Kuantan and Lebuhraya Tun Razak from Segamat and into Road 2490 until it reaches the Selancar Felda complexes (Selancar 2, 4, 5 and 9 on the left and Selancar 3 on the right). From Selancar 9, take off road towards the Proposed Project Site, initially using earth track of Felda Selancar 9 palm oil plantation before joining the numerous tracks within the site (Fig J2a and J2b). Large tracts of open-up lands mainly for agriculture lie in the northern direction drained by the Jekatih River. Sungai Pukin flows in the southerly direction but did not reside within the Proposed Project Site. Figure J1: The Proposed Project Site is bordered on its western side by the Felda Selancar 9 (shown here) and Selancar 4 palm oil plantation. The ‘belukar’ on the left leads to the Proposed Project Site. Figure J2a: The access to the Proposed Project Figure J2b: Numerous unused earth tracks criss- Site is made by the numerous earth track present cross the open parts of the Proposed Project Area. in the general area. The vegetation in the background is part of the Proposed Project Site. Page 2 Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur EXISTING CONDITION Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat The proposed project site is comprised of two ‘types’ of vegetated area. The first, which is much smaller in size of about only 10% of the total Proposed Project Site than the second one, is a tall secondary forest (Figure WH1). The original forest has been previously logged many years ago. What remains is trees with small diameter (less than 15cm) interspersed with shorter tree saplings, suitable for use as ‘kayu jaras’ (Figure WH2). The tree crowns are small that allows abundance of sunlight to penetrate until the forest floor. At the fringe of the secondary forest, where there is direct sunlight, fern thickets thrive well (Figure WH3). Where there is wide opening in the forest cover, light- loving species such as the Amomum spp took (Figure WH4) the opportunity to grow and provide foods for herbivors such as the deer and elephants. This secondary forest forms the best available wildlife habitat in the area despite its small size. Sandwich between the secondary forest and the palm oil plantations, lies the greater part of the proposed project site. It is a highly degraded ‘belukar’ or bushy vegetation. (Figure WH5). Vegetation heights hardly exceed 4m and are dominated by shrubby vegetation (Figure WH6a and WH6b). Generally, the area prevails as a savanna type landscape where the shorter bush is widely interspersed by taller tree species (Figure WH7). Many but smaller patches of barren soil, totally exposed without any vegetation cover can be found in abundant (Figure WH 8). There are two small streams flowing in the area namely Sungai Sesat and Sungai Bakar in the southern end. Several smaller seasonal brooks feeds into the two rivers but they hardly form good habitats for the aquatic wildlife (Figure WH9a and WH9b). However, apart from dew and precipitation, it may be the only source of water for the terrestrial animals in the area. Bigger river, the Sungai Pukin travers outside the Proposed Project Area in the southerly ends and the Sungai Jekatih drains outside the northern borders. Page 3 Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur Figure WH1: The secondary forest found in the Figure WH2: The forest floor is dominated by tree proposed project site. Note the smaller sized saplings and sunlight is abundance due to sparse diameter and wide opening of the crown. crown cover. Remnants of make-shift hut are seen in the foreground, probably used by poachers to hunt wildlife in the area. Figure WH3: The fern thickets, locally known as Figure WH4: Species from the ginger family, resam (Dicranopteris linearis) flourished well at Amomum spp (tepus) is seen growing in the edge of the secondary forest where sunlight is openings of the forest. abundant. Its silhouette distinctly demarcates the border between the forest and the bush (belukar) surrounding the forest island. Page 4 Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur Figure WH5: Large portion of the Proposed Study Figure WH6a: Shrubby vegetation dominates the Site is a cut over vegetation that has turned into degraded part of the proposed project site. The bushy landscapes locally known as ‘belukar’. It is shrub species, Trema orientalis (Menarong) as dominated by shrub, fern-thickets and tall grasses seen here is present in abundance. such as the ‘mempiang’ as seen in the fore ground. Figure WH6b: The vast area of the Proposed Figure WH7: A large portion of the proposed Project Site is predominantly shrubby vegetation project site is comprised of highly degraded forest with few tree species scattered here and there. The habitat as seen here. Most of the soil is exposed broad-leaf shrub seen in the center is Mallotus without much vegetation cover. And the plant paniculatus (Balik Angin), a pioneering species of species cannot grow well and are stunted. open areas. However, few pioneering tree species such as the Pulai (Alstonia angustiloba) can thrives in such harsh ecosystems (The tree in the mid-background of the photo). Page 5 Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur Figure WH8: Barren, exposed soil is quite Figure WH9a: Several small seasonal tributaries of prevalent in the proposed project site as depicted larger river drain the propose project site and is in this photo. the only aquatic habitats available albeit its trivial discharge volume. Nevertheless, it is an important water source for terrestrial wildlife as indicated by numerous footprints found in the vicinity as shown here. Figure WH9b: A very shallow stream that drains the Proposed Project Site. Animal footprints is clearly visible, an indication that it serves as a wildlife water source. Page 6 Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur FLORA SURVEY METHOD The objective of this survey is to obtain the qualitative aspect of the botanical composition of the forest island. The survey is conducted by erecting five 100-meter lines transect make up of rapia strings. Any plant species including trees and non-trees (i.e. palms, shrubs, herbs, & climbers/creepers) and lower plants (ferns and fern-allies) that touches the strings will be recorded as presence. A further three plots of 10 m x 10 m is erected to supplement the transect data. Line transects and plots are erected in strategic location so as to obtain a representative picture on the botanical composition of the forest island. Where possible, all plant species is identified to the species level. Failing that it will be identified to at least the genus level using the taxonomical system currently used. All plant species is then grouped under their taxonomical family and listed alphabetically within the family members. Where identification cannot be made in the field, parts of the plants (i.e. the leaves, flowers, fruits and sometimes barks) are collected using plastic bags. Further identification process is conducted with the aid of relevant books or published articles on the flora of Peninsular Malaysia. If needed, reference is made to the herbarium collection of the University of Malaya or assistance sought from local plant taxonomists. FLORAL COMPOSITION A total of 116 plant species (including trees, palms, shrubs, herbs, climbers, creepers and ferns and fern allies) in 49 families was recorded during the survey (Table Flora-1). This represents a mere 1.4% of the 8,500 species of vascular plants recorded for Peninsular Malaysia. Many of the species recorded are either common or found in abundance elsewhere in the country. The presence of many pioneering species is also quite conspicuous especially near edges and canopy openings – an indication of disturbed environment. Examples are Trema orientalis (Figure WH6a), Mallotus paniculatus (Figure WH6b), Dycranopteris linearis (Figure WH3) and Macaranga gigantea (Figure Flora 1). All of these species are also common in wasteland and roadsides. Two of the species, Diospyros argentea (Bedil Lalat) and Eugeissona tristis (Bertam) is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia. Page 7 Flora and Fauna Study for the Proposed Logging and Oil Palm Plantation at PT 11675 (854.31 Hectares) in Mukim Keratong District of Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur Table Flora 1: Floristic composition of the surveyed forest island in the proposed project area.