BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 1 BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE ______________________________________________________________________ INTODUCTION The Lower Sugut Forest Reserve is part of the Sugut Forest Reserve (32,007 ha) covering 8,680 ha, located in the northeastern part of Sabah (see Figure 1). The management of this reserve comes directly under the jurisdiction of the Beluran Forestry District of the Sabah Forestry Department. The Sugut FR was gazetted as forest reserves in 1984 (SFD 2013a). STUDY SITE Location Figure 1. Location of Lower Sugut FR in Sabah. The Lower Sugut F.R. is located within the Beluran Forestry District. It is readily accessible from the Sapi-Nangoh Highway and after that through oli plam plantations. Beluran is the nearest rural town where key government administrative offices are BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 2 located. This reserve is planked by private oil palm estates on the west and the sulu sea on the eastern side. Soils There are seven major soil associations in Lower Suugut FR namely Kinabatangan, Klias, Maliau, Sapi, Tanjong Aru, Tuaran and Weston (Figure 2). Figure 2. Soil association in Lower Sugut FR. Topography The topography of Lower Sugut FR is generally flat except for the series of sandstone hills in the middle. The lowest point in the area is about 0 m above sea level, while the highest point is about 750 m, located in Compartment 25. Vegetation The vegetation of the Lower Sugut is largely logged-over lowland mix dipterocarp forest (Figure 3). BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 3 Figure 3. Natural vegetation of Lower Sugut FR. METHODS Sampling and plant identification Prior to field survey, various maps, including soil map, forest stratum (Figure 4) and natural vegetation map were obtained for field survey planning. From the maps, areas of interest were identified and located. The field surveys were conducted from 22nd to 27th of Sept., 2014. BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 4 Figure 4. Forest stratum of Lower Sugut FR. All plant species and trees ≥10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were recorded from 10 of 0.1 ha circle plots which were established on disturbed old growth forest (see table 1). Plant specimens with reproductive parts were collected (including voucher specimens) and deposited at the Sandakan Herbarium (SAN). Collecting and preserving plant specimens follow Bridson et al., 1992. The common plant species were identified directly to species level in the field by means of their distinctive field characteristics. For those that could not be readily identified, voucher specimens were collected for subsequent determination at SAN. The voucher specimen collections were oven-dried 45–55° C for several days before determining their identities. All specimens were sorted according to morphospecies and attempted for identification to species level by cross- referencing with the existing specimens in the herbarium and related flora references (e.g., Soepadmo et al., 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2011). Plant classification of the Angiosperm group is based on Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). These flora data were compiled. Relevant literature materials were also consulted to determine the conservation status of the plants listed. Table 1: Location of plots in Lower Sugut FR Plot No. Forest Formation Altitude (m) Northing Easting 1 Hill mdkf 91 6° 17’ 21.9” 117° 36 27.5 BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 5 2 Hill mdkf 82 6° 17’ 06.5” 117° 36’ 23.8” 3 Kapur Merah forest 15 6° 21’ 41.6” 117° 42’ 10.1” 4 Kapur Merah forest 13 6° 21’ 56.8” 117° 42’ 00.3” 5 Kapur Merah forest 12 6° 21’ 36.3” 117° 42’ 20.9” 6 Kerangas 65 6° 20’ 00.8” 117° 38’ 38.7” 7 Kerangas 58 6° 20’ 01.1” 117° 38’ 44.8” 8 Swamp 10 6° 18’ 42.4” 117° 36’ 56.9” 9 Swamp 11 6° 18’ 45.5” 117° 36’ 54.8” 10 Kerangas 16 6° 17’ 13.8” 117° 37’ 04.2” RESULT AND DISCUSSION Plant Diversity From the collections (herbarium and voucher specimens), past surveys and additional data retrieved from BRAHMS database, a total of 584 taxa have been recorded from the reserves. These represented by 1 lycophyte family, 14 ferns, 1 Gymnosperm, 15 Angiosperms (Monocotyledon) and 80 Angiosperm (Dicotyledon) (Table 2). Table 2. Number plant taxa by plant groups from Lower Sugut FR, Sabah, Malaysia. Plant group No. of families No. of taxa Lycopyhtes 1 1 Ferns 14 25 Gymnosperm 1 4 Angiosperm: Monocotyledon 15 76 Dicotyledon 80 478 Total 111 584 BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 6 Plant Conservation Endemism Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution. Endemics can easily become endangered or extinct if their restricted habitat changes, particularly but not only due to human actions, including the introduction of new organisms. Of the 584 taxa that been recorded, 107 taxa are endemic to Borneo, including 10 taxa that are endemic to Sabah. None of the species that has been recorded is endemic to the reserve. The IUCN Red List The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria were designed for global taxon assessments. There are 7 plant species that listed as Vulnerable (VU), 4 Endangered (EN) and 9 Critically Endangered (CR) from the reserves (Table 3). Table 3. List of threatened plant species in Lower Sugut FR based on the IUCN Red list. Species Family IUCN Red List Anisoptera reticulata Dipterocarpaceae CR Dipterocarpus validus Dipterocarpaceae CR Parashorea malaanonan Dipterocarpaceae CR Shorea acuminatissima Dipterocarpaceae CR Shorea almon Dipterocarpaceae CR Shorea seminis Dipterocarpaceae CR Shorea smithiana Dipterocarpaceae CR Shorea superba Dipterocarpaceae CR Shorea symingtonii Dipterocarpaceae CR Hopea beccariana Dipterocarpaceae CR (LC) Hopea nervosa Dipterocarpaceae CR (LC) Shorea gibbosa Dipterocarpaceae CR (LC) Dipterocarpus grandiflorus Dipterocarpaceae CR (NT) Hopea sangal Dipterocarpaceae CR (NT) Shorea agamii Dipterocarpaceae EN Shorea andulensis Dipterocarpaceae EN Shorea argentifolia Dipterocarpaceae EN Vatica maritima Dipterocarpaceae EN Cotylelobium melanoxylon Dipterocarpaceae EN (LC) Dryobalanops beccarii Dipterocarpaceae EN (LC) Shorea leprosula Dipterocarpaceae EN (LC) BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 7 Shorea pauciflora Dipterocarpaceae EN (LC) Anisoptera marginata Dipterocarpaceae EN (NT) Shorea ovata Dipterocarpaceae EN (NT) Anisoptera costata Dipterocarpaceae EN (VU) Mangifera macrocarpa Anacardiaceae VU Durio acutifolius Malvaceae VU Baccaurea odoratissima Phyllanthaceae VU Maclurodendron pubescens Rutaceae VU Gonystylus bancanus Thymelaeaceae VU Gonystylus nervosus Thymelaeaceae VU Cotylelobium lanceolatum Dipterocarpaceae VU (NT) Note: Conservation status in parenthesis are based on Malaysian Red List Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 (SWD, 1997), under part VI (Protection of Plants) listed plants that may not be harvested without a license. There is one taxon, namely Tetrastigma diepenhorstii that fall under Schedule 1, part II, Totally Protected Plant Species. There are 16 plant taxa, which are 7 taxa of orchids, 4 taxa of gingers and 5 species of pitcher plants that fall under Schedule 2, part II, Protected Plant Species. RECOMMENDATION Since the forests in Lower Sugut have already been legally gazetted as Protection Forest (class I), the essential step is to formulate a forest management plan for the reserve. Forest management plan is essential as a guideline to manage any forested area or forest reserve, such as Lower Sugut in order to maintain the integrity of the reserve, including protection or conservation of plant species of high conservation value. Plant species of high conservation value may include species that are, e.g. endemic to a locality and also important as food source for wildlife. This high conservation value plants or plant conservation targets must be identified and monitored, including conducting population studies. The data can be used to further determine appropriate steps to ensure their survival. Population study and monitoring of critically endangered and Sabah endemic dipterocarp, Shorea kudatensis and Shorea symingtonii must be conducted. Protection of forest reserve, including from forest fire and illegal encroachment or felling must also be emphasized in the forest management plan. CONCLUSION A total of 584 taxa have been recorded. Of the 584 taxa that been recorded, 107 taxa are endemic to Borneo, including 10 taxa that are endemic to Sabah. None of the BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER SUGUT FOREST RESERVE 8 species that has been recorded is endemic to the reserve. There are 7 plant species that listed as Vulnerable (VU), 4 Endangered (EN) and 5 Critically Endangered (CR) from the reserves. There are 1 taxon, namely Tetrastigma diepenhorstii that fall under Schedule 1, part II, Totally Protected Plant Species and 16 plant taxa that fall under Schedule 2, part II, Protected Plant Species. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The survey was conducted to get information on flora for the preparation of forest management plan for the reserve. We thank the Deputy Director (Development) his support and assistances. We also thank the Beluran DFO for providing logistic support, En. Jumri Abd. Hamid provided maps, the Deputy Director (R&D), Dr. Lee Ying Fah for his support and the staff of the Systematic Botany section for their hard work in the field. REFERENCES Airy Shaw, H. K. (1975). The Euphorbiaceae of Borneo. Kew Bulletin (Additional Series) 4. 245 pp. Bridson, D. & L. Forman (1992). The Herbarium Handbook. Revised Edition. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 303pp. Dransfield, J (1984). The Rattan of Sabah. Sabah Forest Record No.13. Sabah Forestry Department , Sandakan. 182pp. Haegens, R. (2000). Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Biogeography of Baccaurea, Distichirhops, and Nothobaccaurea (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea, supplement 12. 218 pp. IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2.3 www.iucnredlist.org.