Manajemen Habitat Satwaliar Di Suaka Margasatwa Dolok Surungan Provinsi Sumatera Utara (Dolok Surungan Wildlife Reserve Habitat Management, North Sumatra Province)

Abstract

The Dolok Surungan Wildlife Reserve is an ecologically significant conservation area located along the eastern slopes of the Bukit Barisan Range in North Sumatra. This study, conducted in November 2018 across Resort II and III, assessed vegetation structure, wildlife presence, and habitat conditions using a rapid ecological appraisal that combined interviews with field surveys along purposively placed 500-m transects. Vegetation analysis revealed distinct dominant species at each growth stage, including Hypolepis scabristipes, Eurycoma longifolia, Podocarpus amarus, Styrax benzoin, Schima wallichii, and Shorea spp., indicating heterogeneous forest composition. Wildlife observations recorded 18 mammal species and 32 bird species, with key species such as the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) and Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) detected primarily through spoor. Topographic analysis (SRTM 30 m) showed that the reserve is dominated by steep to very steep terrain (>25%), limiting suitable habitat for large mammals such as tapirs. Land-cover change analysis from 1995 to 2018 indicated a reduction of 1,169 ha of natural forest due to long-standing encroachment driven by socio-economic pressures and weak law enforcement. These physical and anthropogenic factors have significantly degraded habitat quality, contributing to the sharp decline in tapir and tiger populations as reported by local communities and reserve staff. The findings highlight the urgent need for adaptive, flexible, and community-integrated management approaches. Revising the conservation status and governance framework is essential to enhance habitat protection while enabling sustainable economic opportunities through non-timber forest products and ecosystem service development. Strengthened management, improved enforcement, and habitat restoration are critical to securing the long-term biodiversity integrity of the Dolok Surungan Wildlife Reserve.Keywords : Dolok Surungan Wildlife Reserve, Tapirus indicus, Vegetation Structure, Importance Value Index (IVI), Habitat Degradation, Land-cover Change