Structure, composition and commercial characteristics of a primary dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia

F. Goh; J. Falck; M. Hagner; J. Cedergren; A. Garcia

Structure, composition and commercial characteristics of a primary dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia

2002

F. Goh | J. Falck | M. Hagner | J. Cedergren | A. Garcia

A primary dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia, dominated by steep andbroken terrain, was systematically sampled. A total of 88 clusters of four circular plotseach (radius 10 m) were censussed for trees > 10 cm dbh, climbers > 2 cm dbh, andinclination over an area of approximately 600 ha. There was an average of about400 stems ha'1 of which dipterocarps accounted for 27%. Red seraya was the mostcommon dipterocarp group. Mean basal area was 28.4 m2 ha"1 (dipterocarps 56%),and mean volume 399 m3 ha'1 (dipterocarps 62%). Diameter distribution was negativelyexponential. Of dipterocarps, 23% were of poor quality, as were 58% of the nondipterocarps.There were 192 climbers ha"1 > 2 cm dbh. One or more climbers werefound on about 25% of the trees. Trees > 10 cm dbh were significantly aggregatedbut approached a random distribution with increasing dbh. Dipterocarps > 60 cmhad a significantly uniform distribution. Stocking in general compares favourably toother parts of the region. Based on structure and composition data, diameter limitfelling is cautioned against in favour of more elaborate selection systems.

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