Carbon stock in natural regeneration of lowland mixed dipterocarp forest three decades after initial major fire

Repeated forest fires (in 1983 and 1998) have reduced the tree population in the lowland mixed Dipterocarp Samboja, by 95% in 1.8 hectare sampled long-term establishment permanent plot. The remains of 5% were trees more than 40 cm DBH. Well managed forest through preventing fires, logging and encroaching, natural regeneration is occurring in the burnt area both by recovery of pre-fire species and recruitment of incoming new colonizing. The permanent plot was established by a group of scientist from Indonesian Institute of Sciences and surveyed for the first time in 1979-1981. The plot was re-surveyed in 2011. All trees larger than 10 cm DBH were measured and identified. Aboveground carbon stock was estimated, using four allometric equations, based on DBH and wood density of each identified species. Voucher leaf specimens were placed in the Bogoriense Herbarium for species confirmation. Almost thirty years after first fire and thirteen years after second fire basal area of trees in the burnt area had recovered to 70% of the pre-fire value, from 54.3 m2 ha-1 to 38.1 m2 ha-1. The basal area of tree 10-30 cm DBH 100% recovered, but for larger tree 30-60 cm and >60 cm DBH are 70% and 30% recovered, respectively. Four allometric equations were applied in the biomass estimation shown that 60% tree biomass had recovered. In term of tree biomass, 80% tree biomass of 10-30 cm DBH had recovered, 70% of tree 30-60 cm DBH and 35% of tree >60 cm DBH. Wood density profile indicates that tree population after fire more contributed by low to medium wood

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