Persepsi masyarakat terhadap pengembangan ekowisata perlu diketahui karena masyarakat adalah salah satu penentu keberlanjutan ekowisata di masa depan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi persepsi masyarakat terkait dampak pengembangan ekowisata di Teluk Balikpapan serta mengetahui hubungan antara perilaku positif terhadap ekowisata dengan persepsi dan faktor sosial. Pengambilan data dilakukan pada 4 desa di sekitar Teluk Balikpapan, yaitu Desa Maridan, Telemow, Binuang, dan Mentawir. Jumlah responden ditentukan dengan menentukan kuota dimana pada setiap desa diambil 40 responden secara acak. Analisis data dilakukan secara deskriptif dan statistik dengan menggunakan tes Kruskal Wallis dan korelasi Spearman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa masyarakat yang tinggal pada lokasi penelitian menilai jika ekowisata mampu memberikan dampak yang positif bagi desa dan masyarakat. Hasil uji Kruskal Wallis menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada perbedaan persepsi masyarakat pada keempat desa. Berdasarkan uji korelasi Spearman terdapat hubungan antara perilaku positif terhadap ekowisata dengan persepsi dan jenis kelamin. Implikasi persepsi masyarakat terhadap pengembangan ekowisata kemudian didiskusikan. Kata kunci: ekowisata, persepsi, manfaat, perilaku terhadap ekowisata, Teluk Balikpapan

Pourrahmati G, Mataji A, Pourbabaei H, Salehi A. 2018. Short Communication: Floristic composition and relationships between plant species abundance and soil properties in common hazel (Corylus avellana) mountainous forest of northern Iran. Biodiversitas 19: 1835-1841. Mountainous forests are valuable terrestrial ecosystems because of their useful services for the human being. Here, we explored the floristic composition and the relationships between plant species abundance distribution and soil physical and chemical properties in common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in the mountainous forest of northern Iran. Within the forest stand, 30 quadrats (20 m × 20 m and 1 m × 1 m for woody and herbaceous species, respectively) were selectively sampled along an altitudinal range from 1300 m to 1800 m a.s.l. to assess plant species composition and abundance, and soil samples were taken to perform chemical and physical analyses. The results showed that a total of 43 herbaceous and 15 woody species belonging to 23 and 8 families were identified. The abundance of herbaceous species was significantly correlated with soil properties (pH and total N). Furthermore, the abundance of woody species had a non-significant correlation with soil properties.

Some small islands in Balikpapan Bay consist of dry land which may have different vegetation structure and composition. Our study was the first to uncover vegetation conditions and soil proper-ties of dry land on small islands in Balikpapan Bay, which has never been conducted before. The research was carried out on Kalawasan and Karantina islands. Information on vegetation was obtained by applying a line transect method. Data on soil properties were col-lected by setting up 3 sampling plots in each transect of vegetation. Parameters used for analysing vegetation including relative densi-ty, relative frequency, relative dominance, Shannon-Wiener diversi-ty index, evenness index, and similarity index. Meanwhile, data on soils were analysed descriptively. Trees on Kalawasan island were comprised of 241 individuals belonging to 21 species. There were 61 individuals (22 species) of trees on Karantina island. The diver-sity index of trees on Kalawasan and Karantina island was 2.55 and 2.72, respectively. The tree evenness index was 0.84 on Kalawasan island and 0.88 on Karantina island. The index of similarity for trees between the two islands was 0.21. Furthermore, the soil character-istics on Kalawasan and Karantina islands showed similarities. In general, soil in Kalawasan and Karantina islands could be catego-rised as marginal soil which was common in East Kalimantan. Con-sidering the rapid loss of tropical forests in the mainland of Kali-mantan indicates that the small islands of Balikpapan Bay play an important role in future biodiversity conservation in East Kalimantan.

The role of young generations including students was crucial in orang utan conservation. They are not only agent of change, but they are also capable of distinguishing attitudes which are able to influence policy in the future. The purpose of this study was to examine high school students’ perceptions of establishment of the orang utan sanctuary in Balikpapan Bay. We used quantitative and qualitative approaches for data collection with students on the grade of XII as respondent. Data was analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. The findings showed that students had good perceptions towards unreleased orang utan conservation. They agreed that the orang utan sanctuary should be established. Students also had positive perceptions relating to the positive impacts of orang utan sanctuary on the village and environment. However, students had neutral perceptions towards negative impacts of orang utan sanctuary. There were no differences between male and female students’ perceptions towards the establishment of orang utan sanctuary. Conversely, male and female students’ perceptions in regards with the impacts of orang utan sanctuary on the village and environment were differed.

Muara Kaman Sedulang Nature Reserve in East Kalimantan has been damaged due to anthropogenic activities and natural fires. The study aims to explore the floristic composition and soil characteristics in the rehabilitation and protection block to provide plant species information for the restoration activity. Vegetation data were collected in each block with a purposive random sampling method, in a total of 0,36 ha plot sample in rehabilitation block and 0,32 ha in protection block. Soil characteristics samples for physical and chemical measurement were collected in each plot with a composite technique at the soil surface (0 – 30 cm). There are 15 species recorded in rehabilitation block and 30 species in the protection block. The diameter distribution indicated that there are differences in the regeneration process after periods of destruction on each block. The diversity index in the rehabilitation block is low, while in the protection block is low to middle. Mallotus sumatranus is a dominant species in the rehabilitation block, whereas in the protection block is Lagerstroemia speciosa. Lepisanthes alata always presents in all research plots indicated suitability for all type of habitat in the area. Soil type is Endoaquepts Dystrudepts with silt clay loam texture and acid soil.