Study of the existence of cultivated agarwood plants (Aquilaria malacensis) as an effort to preserve the environment around the forest

Abstract

Cultivation of agarwood plants (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamrk.) on community plantation forest (HTR) land is an effort to optimize land use. The agarwood plant is a type of plant that produces agarwood sapwood and essential oils. The research aims to obtain information on the presence of A. malaccensis in Community Plantation Forests in Bahorok District, Langkat Regency. The research used a field survey method on plots measuring 20 x 20 with a total of 12 plot units. Each plot was measured to obtain data on diameter, height, number of trees, and stand density. Meanwhile, information about the benefits of its existence was obtained from interviews with gaharu farmers and key informants. The research results showed that the density of gaharu stands became smaller as the age of the plants increased. The diameter range of A. malaccensis is 4.6c m - 42.6 cm, while the height ranges from 3m -18.5 m. The diameter and height of A. malaccensis tend to increase with increasing plant age. Planting A. malacensis trees by forest farmers is an effort to preserve the environment around forest areas.