The Vegetation and Physiography of Sumatra (Geobotany (22))

Fifteen years ago, approximately half the world population was estimated to live in continental and insular South-East Asia (Burma, Thailand, Kampuchea, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines). Then the region had a population growth of four million people every month, and the problem of malnutrition was acute for the rural population. International agricultural development organisations decided that their primary aim would be to double existing levels of agricultural production and, taking account of population growth, to double it again by the end of the century (Whyte 1976). Today, while global issues have greatly affected the parameters of the problem, the situation remains both serious and difficult. Despite impressive efforts in education and health, Indonesia for example, where population (179 millions) growth eased off only slightly between 1980 and 1990 (from 2. 3 percent to 1. 9 percent), is having to cope with increasing difficulties in managing natural resources and particularly its evanescent forest assets which, until 1986, were the second largest source of national revenue. Indonesia has the second largest surface area of tropical rain forests in the world (after Brazil) and thus all the problems linked with management and disappearance of those forests. The latest estimate gives a figure of 109 million hectares of forest in 1990, of which 40. 8 million hectares are production forests (Anon. -F AO 1990). The position of Sumatra as a link between continental South East Asia and the other main Sunda islands has attracted the attention of naturalists and explorers for many centuries, but the biological richness of the island has been somewhat neglected. This volume gives a critical appraisal of the methods used in vegetation survey in the tropics, and in the utilization of geomorphology, pedology, climatology in preparing sampling procedures for the vegetation. The proposed small-scale eco-floristic physiographical classification forms the basis for future monitoring of deforestation. A study of relationships between biophysical gradients and forest types, floristic mosaics and vegetation dynamics has enabled Laumonier to identify future study sites using phyto-ecological criteria. A great deal of information is incorporated on the structure, flora and ecological characteristics of a surprising diversity of vegetation types. The nature and diversity of Sumatran tropical forests turns out to have been insufficiently understood, leading the author to surmise that the actual modelling of forest function is premature in most cases, and that future research programmes are needed in Sumatra, if a proper balance is to be found between agricultural development and nature conservation. Audience: An extremely important, landmark study of Malaysian vegetation, of interest to students and professionals in plant science, tropical botany, ecology, biogeography, climatology, physical geography, and remote sensing as applied to vegetation science Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-3 Methodology....Pages 4-20 Physical environment and physiographic classification of the vegetation....Pages 21-50 History of the vegetation and phytogeography....Pages 51-64 Vegetation and forest types....Pages 65-185 Conclusions and perspectives....Pages 186-188 Back Matter....Pages 189-223