A Vegetation Study of the Forest in Ruteng Nature Recreation Park, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Abstract

An ecological study on the Ruteng Nature Recreation park (TWA Ruteng), Flores Island, Indonesia was conducted with intent to obtain accurate and current information on the forest such as sftucture, species distribution and diversity, and altiurdinal zonation in the island. Data were collected from qua&ants taken at every 20m on line transects horizontally set up at an altitudinal interval of l00m in following five sampling sites, Lrmpang paji, uluwae, Mano, ponggeok and Mocok in the TWA Ruteng. Forest stands of TWA Ruteng were classified aprproximately into three groups or forest zones. The lowest group is only found at 520n. in altitude at Mocok, and is a lowland tJpi.A forest represented by Artocarpus elastictrs and Canaritnt ctsperwn. The second is a submontane iorest between g00m and around 1500m. This group was assemblage of various forest types. Upwards from 800m, Celris tetra.ndra-ltea macrophylla, Villebrunea sylvatica-Tala*o tu lbi*"nsii, Elaeocarpus spnaerici-Mallotus philippinensis, Palaquium obovatum-Cryptocarya densiflora, platea excelsa-Eiaeocarpus floribwdus, Pagiantlw sphaerocarpa-Acer nivewn, Pittosporm moluccanwn-palaquium obovatun, and Chionanthw raniflorus-Litsea resinosa stands were recognized, and there were considerable number of common species among those forest sunds. Two types of montane forcst Planchonella nitida-platea excelsa stands at Uluwae and Ponggeok ard Acer nivem-Chionantlws ramiflorus stand at Mano, were recognized from 1500m to 2100m, but the last stand has a number of common species with high value of importance among the former stands. A number of forest types in the lowlaiid area have a rend of convergence into a few types in higher altitudes with replacing species. The highest value of total basal aea reacheA I Vo of plot area at 1700m asl. at Ulwae. Mean basal area of a Eee was low in high density ranges, but it graduaily insreased with decrease of density. A plot of an afforesation which has been kept naturally after planting, has low value of it, too, but its process of increase will follow in another way. Forests between 500m and 1000m in altitude are usually confined with villages, and the villagers have exploited forest resources for their daily life. their exploitation has been extended upwards into higher altitudes than lfi)Om. One example has kept in the forest u an Eucalyptus urophyltaplantation. Ruteng forest should be protected more strictly foi promoting people's hedtrr and for recreation than in the past. Key Words: Ruteng Nature Recreation park / Flores Island / altitudinal distibution of forests / submontane forest / montane forest / species diversity / relationship between hee density and basal area / Indonesia Ruteng Nature Recreation Park (Taman Wisata Alam Ruteng, abridged as TWA Ruteng in this paper) is a nature conservation area near Ruteng, the capital of Manggarai county, Flores Island in the East