IN THE HEART of a virgin rain forest, one has a tendency to look ever upward in wonder at the green mesh canopy high overhead.

But the key to understanding the multifarious organism —which yields not only the world’s hardest wood but many of the most useful chemical compounds — is under foot. Will Smits knows this, and because he does, one of Indonesia’s most prized resources is being replenished.

There isn’t any way to reinstate the full value of a rain forest once It has been logged, but It is possible to recreate many of the conditions that spur the growth of meranti, keruing, kapur, resak and bangkiral — the fast-growing hardwoods prized by builders worldwide.

Until recently, however, efforts to grow these members of the species dipterocarpaceae had floundered, and Indonesia’s hopes of replacing the majestic trees that provide its second-largest source of development capital looked dim.

Research by Smits, however, has solved the seeding problem that prevented new hardwoods from growing strong on the timber estates that Indonesia sees as its wood source of the future. It also has bolstered the chances of survival for Borneo’s rain forests.

Smits, a Dutch scientist coordinating a joint project of the Indonesian Institute of Forestry Research and Development, state-owned forest products company F’.T. Injutani I and me Liutcfl agricultural agency Tropenbros, cares more about saving rain forests than the business of timber companies.

In Indonesia, however, the conservation movement and the timber industry are growing closer, albeit slowly. Accordingly, Smits has learned to speak the language of business when the occasion calls for It. "Dipterocarpaceae are the future," he explains "They have established a place in the market."

The packaging appeal of these trees — they can be floated down rivers cheaply — is complemented by other physical attributes: long boughs with straight stems and a sturdy, short-fiber toughness not found in the long-fiber trees dominating forests In North America.

And because of their strong adaptation to their environment, dipterocarpaceae are the most resistant to disease of all the plants in Borneo’s vast forest areas. Their only major problem is the infrequent, unpredictable nature of their flowering cycle.

The bumper fruitings of most dipterocarpaceae occur only every five to 13 years, so "establishing a reliable planting stock has been a serious problem for decades," Smits says.

This has hampered research on how to produce these trees successfully on farms. Just as loggers, motivated by short-term profit, cut down trees on their own schedules, scientists have been guilty of dealing with nature on their own terms too, searching for seedlings only when it suits them.

"Most people search only when conditions are good for man," Smits says, "but we went to the forest right after a heavy rain."

Smits’ team of scientists found sprouts among the roots of huge dipterocarpaceae. The seedlings, doomed to die for lack of space and light beneath their parents’ canopies, were carefully pulled from the ground complete with their tiny roots.

Because the roots of the seedlings were in moist soil, the scientists were able to transplant them. Previous efforts to grow seedlings from seeds had yielded chlorotic plants that died.

Inhutani I has since perfected ways of protecting seedlings so that they can take root in less-than-ideal conditions.

In 1988, the company planted 3,000 hectares with meranti seedlings. Drawing its seed capital from natural rain forests — a 100 hectare patch can yield 50,000 seedlings annually, or enough to give rise to 250 hectares of new trees — the company Is using a fast-growing species to shade the trees as they mature. The company has found that young dipterocarpaceae grow better when they are In shaded, cooler areas.

Meanwhile, the Tropenbros-Inhutanl I research station is training scientists and field personnel from several countries to recognize trees, fungi and certain soil conditions in the hope that more knowledge will help to create more profitable tree farms and protect forest areas.

Smits says it is in the interest of everyone in the timber Industry to learn more about forests, and not just for environmental reasons. "Otherwise, people can sell you anything," he says. "A lot of people don’t know the difference between red meranti and yellow meranti, yet it isn’t so hard to learn."

On another favorite topic, Srmts says the government has finally become serious about regulating the timber Industry. "The minister of forests will more or less force concession holders to use the technology that has been provided (to help save rain forests)."

Smits says the government is providing hope that Borneo's disappearing rain forests can be saved. But he entertains few illusions about the source of the new enlightenment: "It is a logical step. The government really doesn't have much choice."

-Chris Vaughan

Source : Far Eastern Business, July, 1989

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