Gum Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) as Antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus

Gum benzoin (Styrax benzoin) is one of nontimber forest product classified into the resin group. The aim of the study was to determine the component from gum benzoin as an antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus. Indonesian gum benzoin was obtained from North Sumatra and has antibacterial activity against S. aureus with the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentrationo) values of its ethyl acetic extract of 1.00 mg/mL and 2.00 mg/mL, respectively. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was used in purification of ethyl acetate extract of the gum benzoin. The active component was detected by TLC contact bioautography. The bands with Rf of 0.21, 0.77, and 0.87 had growth inhibition activity to the S. aureus. The active antibacterial band with Rf of 0.21 was isolated and it could be an alkaloid component.

Model Perlindungan Hutan dengan Pendekatan Pemanfaatan HHBK bagi Masyarakat Kawasan Hutan Pendidikan UM Palangkaraya

UMP�s University forest 4.910 ha with lowland type and peat swamp forest types habitat have many potentials of forest products especially nontimber forest product (NTFP) like latex, resin, honey, traditional medicine and ornamental plant near animal hunting (for stoping program). NTFP is one opportunity of the community to rising of economic values to make a management model for conservation base on the community with more participating to protect the forest. The research method is an NTFP inventory for 2 forest habitats to searching the market opportunity and community focus group discussion (FGD) to combine the data and community assumption. The result of this research Is we can found an effective model of forest protection with economical community participated in our forest for NTFP. NTFP potential in UMP�s University Forest is damar batu (resin), kopal damar (resin), latex of jelutung, rattan and traditional medicine. We need a more fascinating program and socialization activities for the community for other NTFP in UMP�s University Forest. The most productive of 2015-2016 is a resin of Shorea collection by the community with average 50kg/day per collector and average of community income Rp. 125.000,00/day per collector.

Nontimber Forest Product Yield and Income fromThaumatococcus danielliiunder a Mixed Tree Plantation System in Ghana

Thaumatococcus danielliiis a wild sourced tropical understorey herb that is harvested for its foliage and fruits from which thaumatin—a proteinous sweetener—is extracted. With increased demand for natural sweeteners, uncontrolled harvesting ofT. danielliifrom the wild is suggested to be neither sustainable nor match industrial demands. This study determined the implication of controlled foliage harvesting ofT. danielliiunder a mixed indigenous tree plantation stand.T. danielliiplants within plots of dimension 3 m × 4 m were thinned to uniform foliage population of about 12 leaves/m2and subsequently harvested at 16 weeks interval for 64 weeks at four different foliage harvesting intensities: (i) no harvesting (control), (ii) 25% harvest, (iii) 50% harvest, and (iv) 75% harvest. Data on agronomic characters and total income from the sale of fruit and harvested foliage were collected and analysed. We found that foliage harvest intensity affected(P<0.001)number of flowers in the order: 18 (control) > 6 (25%) ≥ 1 (50%) and 0 (75%). Foliage harvest intensity also significantly(P=0.036)influenced fruit number and ranged from 11458/ha for the control to 4583/ha for the 75% harvest. Total income from fruit and foliage sales was greatest for the 50% harvest (US $ 17,191.32), followed by 75% harvest (US $ 12, 310.24) and lowest for the no harvest treatment (US $ 107.44). Thus, proper management ofT. danielliithrough controlled harvesting of the foliage under mixed tree plantation system could promote sustainable yield and income to farmers.

Domestication, Conservation, and Livelihoods: A Case Study of Piper peepuloides Roxb.—An Important Nontimber Forest Product in South Meghalaya, Northeast India

Wild pepper (Piper peepuloides Roxb., family: Piperaceae) is an evergreen climber which grows wild in tropical evergreen forests and subtropical evergreen forests of northeast India. This plant grows luxuriantly in the areas with high rainfall at lower elevations ranging from 100 to 800 m above mean sea level. In Meghalaya, to meet the market demand, farmers have domesticated it in arecanut agroforests and betel leaf agroforests. We found that the mean density of wild pepper in arecanut agroforest is 585 stem/ha and only 85 stem/ha in natural forest. In India, wild pepper is used in a variety of Ayurvedic medicines. Local people of Meghalaya uses powdered dry seeds mixed with honey and egg yolk for the treatment of severe cough. The study reveals that the average gross annual production of wild pepper is 7 quintals/ha, and final market price fetches Rs. 336,000/ha, out of which 42% of the money goes to the grower, 16% to local trader, 23% to dealer, 17% to retailer, 1.2% to wages of labourers, and 0.6% to transport.

Assessing the Population Status of a Tree Species Using Distance Sampling:Aquilaria crassna(Thymelaeaceae) in Northern Laos

Lack of reliable and accurate field data affect assessments of population status of tree species, especially tropical taxa with broad distributions. Use of distance sampling techniques may help to overcome the problem. This paper describes a method for estimation of absolute density of a rare tree species with scattered and clumped distribution, using line transect distance sampling. The method was applied to previously harvested populations ofAquilaria crassnaPierre ex H. Lec. (Thymelaeaceae) at four sites in Northern Laos. This species is destructively harvested to yield agarwood, probably the world’s most valuable nontimber forest product and categorised as ”critically endangered“. The average density of felledA. crassnatrees at the four sites was 2.2 ha−1, indicating that harvesting has been extensive. However, the estimated densities of living saplings, 10.9 ha−1, small trees (DBH < 10 cm), 10.6 ha−1, and larger trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm), 1.7 ha−1, suggest that populations are not wiped flat. The survey method should stand a good chance of wider use as a tool in management and conservation of a wide range of tree species. Results of the present case study could suggest that the conservation status ofA. crassnashould be re-categorised.

Book Review: Management of Nontimber Forest Product Resources of India: An Analysis of Forest Development Corporations

Management of Nontimber Forest Product Resources of India: An Analysis of Forest Development Corporations by D.D. Tewari International Book Distributing Co. (Publishing Division) Lucknow 226001 U.P. (INDIA) 152 pages 2008 ISBN 81-8189-223-2