FLORISTIC COMPOSITIONS AND STRUCTURES OF FOREST AT BARIO HIGHLANDS, SARAWAK

Four localities, viz., Bario Asal, Pa ’ Ukat, Aur Bilak Ligan and Batu Lawi were surveyed using 20m x 20m plots. The flonstic composition and structures of the forest in this plots were determined. The types of forest associations established from the survey included Cratoxylum formosum—Eugenia rugosa association for Bario Asal, Gymnostoma nobile — Calophyllum griseum association for Pa ’ Ukat, Agathis borneensis—Myristica malaccensis association for Aur Bilak Ligan and Agathis borneensis—Payena maingayi association for Batu Lawi. The number and species diversity of trees surveyed revealed that the degree of stratification and tree size varied between localities. The biomass of these forests ranged between 74.24 tlha to 2,225.49 tlha. The total above ground biomass values from Batu Lawi (1650m a.s.l.) was comparatively high compare to the forest of Bario Asal. The high value of biomass at this particular location was mainly contributed by mature Agathis borneensis trees