Twenty-nine years of forest recovery following selective logging as evidenced by a two-census resurvey in lowland Leuser Sumatra Indonesia
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Abstract. Iqbar I, Djufri D, Darusman D, Syaukani S. 2026. Twenty-nine years of forest recovery following selective logging as evidenced by a two-census resurvey in lowland Leuser Sumatra Indonesia. Asian J For 10 (1): r100124. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjfor/r100124. Secondary forests are increasingly common across tropical regions following selective logging, yet long-term evidence of their successional dynamics remains limited, particularly in lowland dipterocarp forests of Sumatra. This study examines changes in tree species composition and stand structure based on a two-census resurvey conducted six years (2000) and twenty-nine years (2022) after logging in two permanent sample plots (0.5 ha total) at the Soraya Research Station, Leuser Ecosystem, Indonesia. Floristic composition, species dominance, diversity, and structural attributes were analysed using the Importance Value Index (IVI), Shannon diversity, and diameter and height distributions. Tree density increased from 602 to 704 individuals ha⁻¹ over the 23-year interval, while species richness declined slightly from 95 to 88 species. A total of 142 species were recorded across both censuses, with only 14 species shared, indicating high species turnover within a limited sampling area. Shannon diversity decreased marginally (3.9 to 3.7), while evenness remained consistently high (0.84–0.83). Floristic similarity between censuses was low (Sørensen = 15.2%). Diameter distribution in the 29-year forest displayed an inverted J-shape, reflecting ongoing recruitment, although large-diameter trees remained scarce. These results indicate that structural recovery is progressing, whereas species composition continues to shift. The increasing importance of dipterocarp species suggests progression towards later successional stages, although compositional stabilization has not yet been achieved. This study underscores the importance of long-term resurvey data for understanding recovery processes in selectively logged tropical forests.
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