Pengamatan Hamparan Pepohonan yang Tumbuh Di Kawasan Daerah Tangkapan Air Danau Toba Menggunakan Rapid Assesment

Abstract

Lake Toba is one of the areas that still faces problems in the form of forest and land degradation. This is particularly evident in areas that are difficult for humans to reach, such as those with extreme steepness found in the Lake Toba area. Previous greening and land rehabilitation programs in the Lake Toba Watershed have consistently failed or yielded suboptimal results. One of the contributing factors is the extreme land steepness, with nearly the entire watershed area having a slope of over 40%. This research was conducted to provide recommendations for plant species that can be planted in the Lake Toba Watershed, serving as a guide for selecting plant species during rehabilitation activities. The objective of this study is to identify plant species that can thrive in extreme steepness conditions, specifically on land with a slope exceeding 40%. The research was conducted in early October 2024 in five regencies: Dairi Regency, Karo Regency, Simalungun Regency, Toba Regency, North Tapanuli Regency, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, and Samosir Regency. Data collection was carried out through purposive sampling by observing tree species growing in extreme land conditions. The results show that Pinus (Pinus merkusii) is the most common plant species found in extreme land conditions in the Lake Toba Watershed, with simple growth requirements and potential economic benefits. Therefore, Pinus (Pinus merkusii) is recommended as a suitable plant species for rehabilitation efforts in this area.