ARENGA PALM (Arenga Obtusifolia)
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Arenga Palm (Arenga obtusifolia) or Langkap in Bahasa Indonesia is a palm type plant that spreads very quickly so that the succession of the Javan rhino habitat stops below the climax (sub climax) or deviates from the climax (post climax). The very rapid growth of the species results in competition and reduces the abundance of the Javan rhino food plant.
The invasive of langkap plant has taken over about 60 percent of the habitat and marginalized the population of javan rhino on Ujung Kulon peninsula that becomes fragmented and isolated into three bags. Where the arenga palm dominates, noyhing else grows. The palm covers vast area of forest; these area can not provide suitable food for rhino. The massive occupancy of langkap are making the development of corridor between three bags become more important and other actions to control the proliferation of langkap , as well as helping the mobility of healthy rhino population.
Ujung Kulon National Park has an ecosystem restoration target of 2,700 hectares for the period 2020-2024. The target for ecosystem recovery is in the form of controlling invasive plants by 2022 in Ujung Kulon National Park covering an area of 104 ha.
Thanks to SAFE Worldwide for financial supporting on arenga palm eradication project 2022
