Abstract. Rambey R, Susilowati A, Rangkuti AB, Onrizal O, Desrita, Ardhi R, Hartanto A. 2021. Plant diversity, structure and composition of vegetation around Barumun Watershed, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3250-3256. Watershed ecosystem plays an important role in water and soil conservation which is supported by vegetation around watershed. As such, vegetation analysis is beneficial to assess the current state of watershed vegetation and monitor future changes. Barumun Watershed, located in South Labuhanbatu District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, is under threat due to habitat degradation and land conversion for plantation and agriculture. This research aimed to investigate the diversity, structure and composition of vegetation in the Barumun River including its smaller streams (rivulets). Data were collected using a combination of line transect and quadratic plots arranged systematically. The total observation plots were 48 plots, consisting of 24 plots in Barumun River, 12 plots in Tasik Rivulet and 12 plots in Titi Kembar Rivulet. The results documented a total of 51 plants in the studied sites in Barumun Watershed in which 37 species were found in Barumun River, 20 species in Tasik Rivulet and 17 species in the Titi Kembar Rivulet. Plant species consisted of several habitus including herbs, palms, shrubs, climbers and trees. The trees consisted of 22 species (43.13%), herbs 22 species (43.13%), climbers 3 species (5.88%), shrubs two species (3.92%), and palm two species (3.92%). The highest Importance Value Index (IVI) for tree community was recorded in the Barumun River from Hevea brasiliensis (108.28), followed by Cryptocarya sp. (123.24) in the Titi Kembar Rivulet. In addition, the highest IVI for pole, sapling, seedling, and shrub was recorded from Muntingia calabura (Barumun River), Nauclea orientalis (Tasik Rivulet), Psychotria viridiflora (Tasik Rivulet), and Calamus axillaris (Titi Kembar Rivulet), respectively. The plant diversity in Barumun Watershed was categorized from low to moderate level of richness.

Abstract. Rambe IF, Rambey R, Siregar S. 2021. Species diversity, abundance, and wildlife conservation status in Batang Gadis National Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 5189-5196. Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Furthermore, the biodiversity of floral and faunal species is still being monitored and maintained, one of which is in the forest of the National Park. Batang Gadis National Park is a habitat for various species of endemic Sumatran wildlife, most of which are endangered species in the world. Therefore, this study aimed to inventory wild animals and to calculate their abundance in the Batang Gadis National Park. The study used camera traps as recording devices that were installed on permanent and non-permanent plots based on evidential animal trajectories in the National Park Management Section Region III Resort 7 Forest of Ampung Padang Forest in 2018. In the permanent plot, 10 species were documented within nine families, namely the Felidae, Tapiridae, Cervidae, Viverridae, Ursidae, Tragulidae, Suidae, Tupaiidae, and the Cercopithecidae. The highest species abundance was Macaca nemestrina (36.17%), and the second-highest was Muntiacus muntjak Zimmermann (14.89%), and then Tapirus indicus Desmarest (10,64%). Also, the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae Pocock) was in the fourth position with a value of 10.63% of species abundance. Meanwhile, the lowest abundance index value was from clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi Cuvier) with 2.12%. The abundance of species from the non-permanent plots using camera trap documented a total of 13 species with 12 families namely Felidae, Tapiridae, Cervidae, Hystricidae, Viverridae, Muridae, Phasianidae, Tragulidae, Suidae, Muscicapidae, Tupaiidae, and Cercopithecidae. The highest was documented from wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) at 42.48% and the second-highest species abundance was macaque (N. nemestrina) at 26.144%. The lowest species abundance index values were tapir (T. indicus) and Javan blue robin (Myiomela diana Lesson) with 0,33% and 0,33 %, respectively. The existence of documented wildlife species in our study affirmsed the importance of Batang Gadis National Park as a natural habitat for some key and protected species.

Mushrooms live wild in nature and widely used by the community as food and medicinal. Mushroom cultivation is a way to meet the growing demand for mushroom consumption. Oyster mushroom can grow in medium containing lignin and nutrients needed for the growth of mushrooms. The purpose of the study was to measure the effect of mixture corncob with sawdust as planting media for growth and productivity of white oyster mushroom (P. ostreatus) and get the best planting media composition for growth and productivity of white oyster mushroom. This research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments and five replications. Corncob are added as much 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. The results showed that the best composition of growing media for the growth and productivity of white oyster mushroom is the addition of 30% corncob. Mixed corncob 30% have lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose levels more optimal for growth and productivity of white oyster mushrooms.

Shorea platyclados Slooten ex Endert is a commercial timber-producing tree from the Dipterocarpaceae family, with the trade name red meranti. The distribution and abundance of Shorea species in Indonesia are decreasing due to forest conversion and illegal logging. As a result, this species is listed as endangered (EN) according to The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Therefore, conservation efforts become an urgent task for this species. This study was conducted to identify the morphological characteristics and distribution patterns of S. platyclados in its natural habitat in the Martelu Purba nature reserve. Morphological identification was carried out through direct observation and measurement of all parts of the tree organs, such as the characters of leaves, seeds, flowers, stems, crowns, and bark. The species abundance was carried out through exploration and inventory methods in approximately 195 ha, and 110 plots were built for vegetation analysis. Our research found that S. platyclados has flat branches and has very sharp seed tips. The results of the species abundance showed that of 110 observation plots, 484 individuals of S. platyclados were found at the tree level. This condition is rather contrary to the current status registered by the IUCN.

In this study there were 33 types of medicinal plants utilized by people of Batu Katak Village that were directly bordered to the Gunung Leuser National Park. These medicinal plants can be found on community cultivation lands and forests of Gunung Leuser National Park. This research method was carried out with an inventory of types of medicinal plants and interviews with the community to find out the benefits and part plant medicinal plants used by Batu Katak Village community. Batu Katak community makes use of plants root, rhizome, stem, bark and leaves all parts of the plants as medicine. The most widely used part is the leaves (75%), as much as 25 % used part are rhizome, root, stem and bark. The majority of the people of Batu Katak Village are ethnic Karo. Karo ethnicity itself has local knowledge in using medicinal plants that have been passed down for generations.