The Importance of Preserving Forests: The Functions of Forests for Life
Forests are not just wood or trees, but there are other lives that interact with each other. Forests are one of the complex ecosystems, involving many species that affect human life.
Forests are more than just wood or trees; they are complex ecosystems teeming with life and interactions that significantly impact human existence. According to Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry, a forest is defined as a unified ecosystem in the form of a stretch of land containing natural biological resources dominated by trees in a natural environmental association, where each component is inseparable from another.
As a complex ecosystem, forests provide numerous benefits and functions that are essential for life on Earth. Here are the main benefits and functions of forests:
The Lungs of the World, Reducing Global Warming
Forests play a vital role in maintaining the global climate balance. Through photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Furthermore, forests have a vast capacity to store carbon. Forest plant biomass, such as tree trunks, leaves, and roots, can store carbon absorbed from the atmosphere. Additionally, the soil in forest environments stores significant amounts of organic carbon, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
Indonesia ranks 14th among countries with the highest carbon emissions (UNDP, 2018). The report states that 80% of carbon emissions in the forestry sector are due to deforestation, while the remaining 20% result from forest degradation.
The forest environment also helps regulate temperature by absorbing solar energy and through evapotranspiration.
Hydrological Function
Forests contribute to the water cycle and regulate weather patterns, which are crucial for climate stability. Well-maintained forests absorb, store, and release water consistently, ensuring the availability of water resources.
A healthy forest possesses a thick layer of humus and organic matter on the soil surface, enabling excellent water absorption. The water stored in the soil then flows through underground layers into rivers, lakes, and springs.
Forests also play a crucial role in regulating the water cycle. Through evapotranspiration, they release water vapor into the atmosphere. This process occurs when trees and plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and transport it to their leaves, where it evaporates through stomata.
The water vapor generated through evapotranspiration diffuses into the atmosphere and encounters cooler air at higher altitudes, leading to condensation and the formation of clouds. These clouds carry water vapor in the form of small particles that combine to form water droplets, which eventually fall as rain. Extensive and dense forests can generate more clouds, increasing the likelihood of sustained rainfall.
Research by Coresy Bradshaw across 56 developing countries suggests that a 10% reduction in forest cover could increase flood frequency by 4-28%.
Soil Conservation, Flood Control
Forests are essential for soil conservation. Strong tree root systems help maintain soil stability and density, preventing erosion. Fallen leaves, twigs, and fruit provide an additional layer of protection for the soil. This organic material decomposes into humus, enriching soil fertility.
The robust root systems of trees bind the soil, reducing the risk of landslides during rainfall. Tree stands and their root systems also help reduce the speed of surface water flow, mitigating flood risk.
The unprecedented flood in Batu City in 2021 was linked to forest encroachment on the slopes of Mount Arjuna for agricultural purposes. Consequently, heavy rainfall led to rapid water flow carrying soil, deadwood, and trees, resulting in a flash flood that killed six people and destroyed hundreds of homes and farmland.
A more devastating flood occurred in Bukit Lawang, Leuser National Park, North Sumatra, in 2003. This disaster claimed the lives of 157 people, including six foreign tourists, with 82 still missing. Forest Watch Indonesia reported that the death toll reached 300. This flood was attributed to forest degradation and rampant logging.
Economic Fungi
The defining characteristic of a forest is the presence of woody tree stands. Many of these trees have high economic value and can be used for building materials, furniture, and other purposes.
In addition to wood products, forests provide sustainable economic benefits through nature tourism. Many nature tours in Java utilize pine forests as recreational destinations, attracting thousands of visitors who come to appreciate the natural beauty.
Indonesia's forests also hold potential for special interest nature tourism, particularly birdwatching. Birdwatching activities are gaining popularity in Halmahera, North Maluku, Manokwari, Papua, and Bali. Numerous foreign tourists visit these forests to observe birds and other wildlife. PROFAUNA Indonesia is also developing birdwatching tourism in East Java.
Orangutan viewing tours in their natural habitat, such as those in Leuser National Park in Sumatra and Tanjung Puting in Kalimantan, have long attracted foreign tourists. The survival of these orangutans depends heavily on the sustainability of their forest habitats.
Forests offer more than just timber; they also yield non-wood products like rattan, orchids, honey, mushrooms, ferns, and medicinal plants. Many local communities rely on these non-wood forest products for their livelihoods.
Hundreds of honey farmers in the Sentarum Lake National Park area have benefited economically from selling forest honey. Honey hunters in Sumbawa Regency also generate substantial income from honey.
The people living near the Kereng Forest of Mount Arjuna have a long tradition of selling forest ferns as vegetables. These ferns grow year-round in certain areas of the Arjuna slope forest, providing an essential source of income for the local communities.
Biodiversity
Forests are home to a rich diversity of animal and plant species, many of which depend on forests for their survival. Without forests, these species would perish.
Indonesia boasts the third-largest tropical rainforest cover globally, after Brazil and Congo. With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia harbors a vast array of plant and animal species.
Each species within a forest plays a unique ecological role and interacts with others, influencing the food chain and ecosystem balance. An intact forest ensures the equilibrium of the forest ecosystem.
Indonesia's rainforests are teeming with thousands of species, earning the country the title of a Megabiodiversity Country. Although Indonesia's land area covers only 1.3% of the Earth's landmass, it harbors 10% of the world's plant species, 12% of mammal species, 16% of reptile and amphibian species, and 17% of bird species (Collin et al., 1991).
Indonesia possesses the greatest wealth of palm species globally, over 400 types of dipterocarp wood (the largest commercial wood species in Southeast Asia), and approximately 25,000 flowering plants.
Indonesia also ranks highly in species richness, including swallowtail butterflies (121 species, 44% endemic), reptiles (over 600 species), birds (1,519 species, 28% endemic), amphibians (over 270 species), and flowering flora.
Social and Cultural Functions
Beyond their ecological and economic functions, forests hold significant meaning for indigenous and local communities due to their socio-cultural importance. Many indigenous communities, such as those in Mentawai, West Sumatra, rely on forests for traditional medicines.
The Dayak people of Kalimantan are also inextricably linked to the forest. They utilize hundreds of forest products for food, medicine, ceremonies, cultural practices, and economic resources. They possess traditional wisdom for maintaining sustainable forests, as their lives are deeply intertwined with the forest.
The Baduy indigenous people in Banten have customary laws regarding forest protection. Forests for the Baduy indigenous people are the heart of life that provides them with food, water and the survival of their children and grandchildren. The Baduy indigenous people recognize the concept of forests divided into three types based on function, namely forbidden forests, dudungusan forests, and cultivated forests.
The Baduy indigenous people of Banten have customary laws concerning forest protection. For the Baduy, forests are the heart of life, providing food, water, and ensuring the survival of future generations. They recognize three types of forests based on function: forbidden forests, dudungusan (preserved) forests, and cultivated forests.
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