The potential of rubber agroforestry for rattan (Calamus sp) cultivation in katingan regency: Diversity of climbing trees for rattan

A research aimed to evaluate the level of diversity of rattan trees under agroforestry system, was conducted from June to December 2011 in Tumbang (Tb) Kalemei (upstream of Katingan), Tb Hiran (middle) and Tb Liting (downstream) villages, Katingan regency, Central Kalimantan. The data were collected using purposive sampling in rubber agroforestry (RA) and secondary forest (SF). The evaluation of species diversity was measured by species richness, Importance Value Index, and Diversity Index. The results indicated SF had high species diversity, while the diversity level of RA was high in Tb Hiran village. The other two villages had RA in moderate diversity level, and the average of basal area in SF was higher than that of RA. Habitat similarity was characterised by the similar composition and structure of vegetation of both RA and SF in Tb Hiran and Tb Kalemei only. The SF in Tb Liting village was similar to RA, but it differs with SF in Tb Hiran and Tb Kalemei villages. The potential of supporting trees for rattan in RA was quite high based on its high species density and the presence of trees with high to extremely high wood density as found in SF.