Assessing the utilization of naturalized alien plant species by community to inform its management strategy: A case study in Cibodas Biosphere Reserve, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Handayani A, Zuhud EAM, Junaedi DI. 2021. Assessing the utilization of naturalized alien plant species by community to inform its management strategy: A case study in Cibodas Biosphere Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2579-2588. Alien plant species can have two side effects, either positively in terms of the utilization of these species to fulfill human needs, or negatively in terms of their invasion which might threaten biodiversity and reduce land productivity. Yet, it is not clear how an introduced plant species can be carefully managed and utilized (so-called Naturalized Alien Plant Species/NAPS) so that the NAPS does not become Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS). Using Cibodas Biosphere Reserves (CBR), West Java, Indonesia as a case study, this study aims to investigate the utilization of Naturalized Alien Plant Species (NAPS) by local communities in the buffer zone of CBR and quantify the utilization of NAPS based on cultural perspective using Index Cultural Significance (ICS) framework. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires and interviewing 90 respondents in three locations around CBR: Bodogol, Cibodas, and Gekbrong. The results showed that the community used 72 Naturalized Alien Plant Species, with 30% of the utilized plants were from Asteraceae family. Centella asiatica was the most widely used species, but the species with the highest Index Cultural Significance value was Artemisia vulgaris. Based on the ICS classification, there were ten species (13.89%) with high significance values, 17 species (23.61%) with moderate significance, 30 species (41.67%) with low significance, and 15 species (20.83%) with very low significance. Species with high significance values were Artemisia vulgaris, Chimonobambusa quadrangularis, Bidens pilosa, Mentha arvensis, Amaranthus spinosus, Centella asiatica, Cyphomandra betacea, Calliandra calothyrsus, Fragaria vesca, and Solanum torvum. Based on these results, the recommended strategy is to regularly harvest the Naturalized Alien Plant Species with high ICS value to control their population and fulfill community needs.

The naturalized vascular flora of Malesia

“…As elsewhere, some of the widespread and invasive taxa have both positive and negative socioeconomic and ecological impacts within Malesia, making management complex. For example, in West Java within the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve, three of the 31 species which are naturalized on every island group, Lantana camara, Piper aduncum and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, are also amongst the top 15 species that are significantly important to local communities culturally and economically (Handayani and Hidayati 2020) but remain ecologically damaging (Handayani et al 2021). For species such as these, which are already resident in every island group and have mixed cultural, economic and ecological roles, it is more important to understand how to manage populations effectively [e.g.…”

“…For species such as these, which are already resident in every island group and have mixed cultural, economic and ecological roles, it is more important to understand how to manage populations effectively [e.g. through harvest and containment in the case of the Cibodas Biosphere Reserve (Handayani et al 2021)], and to prevent their introduction in smaller satellite islands where they may not yet have spread, rather than focusing solely on eradicating established populations.…”

The potency of Myrtaceae Family from Cibodas Botanic Gardens (Cianjur, Indonesia) as botanical pesticide

“…EOs from E. urophylla, E. saligna, L. scoparium, and M. bracteata as bioherbicides caused an inhibitory effect of seed germination, shoot and root growth, as well as reducing the amount of pigment content of Acacia confusa, Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus viridis, and Stachytarpetha indica. Several species related with these weeds are familiar as invasive alien species (IAS) in CBG, including Acacia farnesiana (Junaedi and Mutaqien 2018), Amaranthus spinosus (Handayani et al 2021), and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (Handayani and Hidayati 2020). The EOs probably had a similar prospective to control the IAS in the CBG.…”

Diversity, Abundance, and Traditional Uses of Asteraceae Species in Mount Bisma, Dieng Plateau, Kejajar, Wonosobo, Central Java

“…High UV or ICS value suggests that the species is more beneficial than other species. If the species is beneficial enough to be demanded by more people, the species tend to be cultivated by people, then it will preserve in (Handayani et al 2021).…”