Studi Flora Dan Fauna Kawasan Hutan Konservasi – Lapangan Pulau Gading Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin Provinsi Sumatera Selatan

Abstract

The Pulau Gading Conservation Area represents one of the remaining peat swamp forest fragments in Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia, and plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity within a fragmented landscape. This study aimed to assess species composition, vegetation structure, and the ecological significance of the conservation area for flora and fauna conservation. Vegetation was surveyed using a nested sampling plot method, while faunal data were obtained through field observations and secondary data analysis. A total of 84 plant species belonging to at least 25 families were recorded. Vegetation structure was dominated by seedlings, saplings, and poles, indicating an active natural regeneration process and a secondary successional stage. Characteristic peat swamp species, including Melaleuca cajuputi, Pandanus spp., and Pimeleodendron griffithianum, were still present, suggesting that key ecological attributes of the original peat swamp ecosystem remain intact. Faunal surveys documented the presence of various wildlife groups, including forest birds, hornbills, arboreal primates, and carnivorous mammals, indicating the persistence of important ecological processes and habitat connectivity with surrounding natural areas. Riparian habitats were also found to play a critical role in maintaining ecological connectivity, water quality, and hydrological functions. Overall, the Pulau Gading Conservation Area functions as an important biodiversity refuge within a highly fragmented peatland landscape. Continued habitat protection, riparian corridor maintenance, and long-term biodiversity monitoring are therefore essential to sustain its ecological functions and conservation value.