Pendugaan Cadangan Karbon Tegakan Karet (Hevea brasiliensis) Hutan Rakyat Berdasarkan Kelas Umur di Kabupaten OKU Timur | Estimation of Carbon Stock of (Hevea brasiliensis) Stands in Community Forests Based on Age Classes in OKU Timur Regency

Tanaman karet (Hevea brasiliensis) bukan hanya berfungsi secara ekonomis, melainkan juga memiliki kontribusi ekologis sebagai penyerap karbon atmosfer. Penelitian ini bertujuan menduga cadangan karbon dan serapan CO2 pada tegakan karet rakyat berdasarkan kelas umur di Desa Karya Makmur dan Desa Nikan, Kabupaten OKU Timur. Data diperoleh melalui pengukuran diameter dan tinggi pohon pada 24 plot, kemudian dihitung volume, biomassa, dan dikonversi menjadi cadangan karbon dan serapan CO2. Analisis statistik meliputi uji korelasi Spearman dan regresi linier sederhana. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa semakin tua umur tegakan, semakin besar cadangan karbon dan serapan CO2 yang tersimpan. Rata-rata cadangan karbon tertinggi terdapat di lahan A KU V (227,46 ton/ha) dan serapan CO2 sebesar 834,785 ton/ha. Uji statistik korelasi spearman membuktikan terdapat hubungan yang positif dan kuat antara umur dan kandungan karbon (r = 0,654) dan uji regresi linier sederhana berpengaruh positif dan signifikan. Penelitian ini memperkuat peran hutan rakyat karet sebagai solusi dalam mitigasi perubahan iklim.

Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) not only serve an economic function but also have an ecological contribution as atmospheric carbon sinks. This study aimed to estimate the carbon stock and CO2 sequestration of smallholder rubber stands based on age classes in Karya Makmur and Nikan Villages, East OKU Regency. Data were collected through measurements of tree diameter and height across 24 plots, followed by calculations of volume, biomass, and their conversion into carbon stock and CO2 sequestration. Statistical analyses included the Spearman correlation test, and simple linear regression. The results showed that the older the stand age, the greater the carbon stock and CO2 sequestration. The highest average carbon stock was recorded in Site A, Age Class V (227.46 tons/ha), with CO2 sequestration of 834.785 tons/ha. Spearman’s correlation test confirmed a strong positive relationship between age and carbon content (r = 0.654), while simple linear regression analysis showed a positive and significant effect. This study reinforces the role of smallholder rubber forests as a solution for climate change mitigation.