Impact of oil palm plantation on species diversity of tropical vegetation

Abstract

The area size of oil palm plantation in Indonesia increases significantly every year. The great expansion of oil palm plantation stimulates the emergence of negative accusation that oil palm plantation development caused deforestation, reduction of biodiversity, and environmental degradation. This research aimed to analyze the impact of oil palm plantation development on species diversity of tropical vegetation. This research was conducted on 5 types of land cover in BPME oil palm plantation (young growth oil palm, medium growth oil palm, and old growth oil palm, bush land, and coconut plantation) by single plot method. Research results show that, the change of bush land to oil palm plantation caused biodiversity loss as many as 7 species (38.89%), biodiversity gain as many as 44 species (244.44%) and 18 species being found both in bush land and oil palm plantation, while 3 species of epiphyte moss were found too. On the other hand, change from coconut plantation to become oil palm plantation caused biodiversity loss as many as 6 species (60%), biodiversity gain as many as 52 species (520%) and 10 species being found both in coconut plantation and oil palm plantation, while 3 species of epiphyte moss were also found.