Species diversity and regeneration at Sessang peat swamp forest, Sarawak

A survey of species diversity was made along a trail in a 65-ha plot of peat swamp forest at MARDI Station, Sessang, Sarawak before the trees were cleared for agricultural development. Plant species that regenerated 10 months later were studied in a plot (100 m x 100 m) each under the felling-burning, felling-stacking and felling-chipping-stacking clearing techniqu es. Before the felling of trees, the peat swamp forest was represented by Macaranga triloba-community as well as M. gigantea, M. pruinosa and M. puncticulata which formed the dominant species . A total of 148 species represented by 66 families and 91 genera were recorded. The most diverse families in species number were Annonaceae , Euphobiaceae, Lauraceae and Moraceae. About 10 months after clearing of the forest, a total of 87 plant species regenerated, belonging to 71 genera and 47 families. About 31% of the species recorded before clearing of the forest were found to regenerate in the area. Out of the total 87 species recorded, about 37% of the species regenerated could be found in the areas of the three clearing techniques. Comparatively, the area cleare d by the felling-burning technique had the least number of plant density and plant species diversity with 44 species belonging to 36 genera and 28 families while the area cleared by felling-stacking technique, registered more plant species and higher number of plant density than that of the felling-burning technique with a total of 66 species, belonging to 55 genera and 39 families. The plot cleared by the felling-stacking-chipping technique possessed the most abundant not only in plant density but also in species divers ity, with 78 species, 6 1 genera and 43 families recorded .