Status of enrichment planting in Peninsular Malaysia

Substantial area of virgin natural inland forest, particularly in the Permanent Forest Reserve/Estate (PFR or PFE) are opened for logging based on the allocated anual allowable cut (AAC) yearly which has changed its status to logged-over forests. Generally, some of these logged-over forests are poorly-stocked for the next cutting cycle or rotation, although these areas are managed under sustainable forest management (SFM) system. In this regards, enrichment planting (EP) is carefully planned and implemented in order to increased the number of regenarations or standing stocking of the logged-over forest with commercial indigenous species, sufficiently prepared for the next cutting cycle or rotation. Under the Selective Management System (SMS), EP is one of the two most important and also commonly applied silviculture treatment options, particularly significant in the silvicultural practice of the Natural Inland Forest. The other is poison-girdling of defective relic trees and climber cutting (GCL) in order to release growth of the residual stand after logging. To facilitate enrichment planting, the Forestry Department has initaited and published the 'Guideline for Enrichment Planting' as a D.G.'s Circular No:2/96. In the light of the availability of current research findings, the Forestry Department has taken necessary steps to update the information available in this circular for more effective enrichment planting practices. The type of species used for planting are made diverse from not only the 'Regeneration Sampling' (RS) list published by the Forestry Department. The planting materials are normally prepared in the permanent or temporary nursery from wildings or raised from seed. However, new source such as from stem cuttings has now made available for EP project. Other planting techniques such as 'rectangular' and 'triangular' group planting in addition to the normal 'line planting' are also made available. These steps are very essential with regards to the country's full committment to the sustainable forest management practices and to increase the productivity of the logged-over forests. This paper therefore attempts to highlight the current significant contribution of the EP in the light of the implementation of the SMS as well as addressing the issues and challenges of EP by incorporating several key aspects of the implementation stage and finally the future prospect of EP with regards to the sustainable forest management practices in the country.