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The majority of tropical forest plants form associations with Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). These symbiotic fungi play important roles in promoting the survivability of their host, improving their productivity, and increasing microbial biodiversity in the underground. In order to promote the survivability and the growth of two peatlands tree species (Shorea balangeran and Tristaniopsis obovata) on Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, their seedlings were inoculated with EMF. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of EMF inoculation by identifying the EMF that colonized the root tips of Shorea balangeran and Tristaniopsis obovata using a molecular approach after 3 years of planting. The results shows that eight molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTU) were successfully identified out of twelve EMF root tips. Most of these MOTU identified as Thelephoraceae family, which is a cosmopolitan fungus in Southeast Asia forests. However, none of the inoculated EMF were detected in the root tips, indicating the occurrence of natural succession process, where native EMF in the field replacing inoculated EMF in the nursery.

Agarwood is a resinous wood of great economic value produced by trees from the Thymelaeaceae family in response to stress. The natural formation of agarwood can take decades after exposure to the stressors. Artificial agarwood induction by inoculating the stem with fungi has been successfully demonstrated, but resin accumulation occurs very slowly. Cell suspension and callus cultures may serve as an alternative solution to provide a fast-growing plant material to produce artificial agarwood in a short period. Here, we induced agarwood formation in callus cultures of Aquilaria malaccensis by application of crude mycelial extracts of Fusarium solani strains GSL1 or GSL2, or methyl jasmonate (MeJA). After 20 days of treatment with elicitors, all treated calluses had less dry weight than the control group. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis identified 33 different secondary metabolites among all samples, four of which were present in all treatments and control, i.e., 1-docosene and 1-octadecene (alkenes), 4-di-tert-buthylphenol (phenolic), and benzenepropanoic acid (fatty acid). The 6-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenethyl)-4H-chromene-4-one, a chromone derivative, was only detected in callus elicited with the F. solani strain GSL2 and MeJA. All treated calli produced more fatty acid derivatives than the control group. We conclude that elicitors used in this study can induce the production of agarwood-related chemicals such as chromone and fatty acid in callus culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the collaboration between the Center for Standardization of Disaster Resilience and Climate Change Instruments, Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Mushroom Initiative to restore degraded peatlands in Indonesia using the 4N rehabilitation concept. The 4N approach involves avoiding the use of plastic, burning, and chemical fertilizers, and promoting native peatland tree species. The project successfully rehabilitated 116 hectares of tropical peatlands, planting over 190,000 seedlings of native peatland species. The 4N approach has multiple benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability and community involvement. [Extracted from the article]

Indonesia has the second-largest biodiversity of any country in the world. Deforestation and forest degradation have caused a range of environmental issues, including habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity, deterioration of water quality and quantity, air pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Forest restoration at the landscape level has been conducted to balance ecological integrity and human well-being. Forest restoration efforts are also aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and are closely related to Indonesia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) from the forestry sector. The purpose of this paper is to examine the regulatory, institutional, and policy aspects of forest restoration in Indonesia, as well as the implementation of forest restoration activities in the country. The article was written using a synoptic review approach to Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)-related articles and national experiences. Failures, success stories, and criteria and indicators for forest restoration success are all discussed. We also discuss the latest silvicultural techniques for the success of the forest restoration program. Restoration governance in Indonesia has focused on the wetland ecosystem such as peatlands and mangroves, but due to the severely degraded condition of many forests, the government has by necessity opted for active restoration involving the planting and establishment of livelihood options. The government has adapted its restoration approach from the early focus on ecological restoration to more forest landscape restoration, which recognizes that involving the local community in restoration activities is critical for the success of forest restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical peatlands are fragile ecosystems with an important role in conserving biodiversity, water quality and availability, preventing floods, soil intrusion, erosion and sedimentation, and providing a livelihood for people. However, due to illegal logging, fire and conversion into other land use, the peatlands in Indonesia are under serious threat. Efforts to restore Indonesia's tropical peatlands have been accelerated by the establishment of the Peatland Restoration Agency in early 2016. The restoration action policy includes the rewetting, revegetation and revitalisation of local livelihood (known as the 3Rs). This paper summarises the regulatory, institutional and planning aspects of peatland restoration, in addition to the implementation of the 3Rs in Indonesia, including failures, success stories, and the criteria and indicators for the success of peatland restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agarwood is a non-timber forest product found in tropical rain forests. It is a black and fragrant resin valued for the perfume industry and demand continues to increase. However, the Indonesian agarwood-producing species, Aquilaria malaccensis and Gyrinops versteegii do not automatically produce such quality resin. Bio-induction technology or inoculation using Fusarium solani is usually applied to these species to trigger resin production. This research aims to identify agarwood compounds formed in seedlings and trees of A. malaccensis and G. versteegii after these species were inoculated with the fungus F. solani. The chemical compounds were identified by comparing the patterns of mass spectra fragmentation in the sample and in previous studies. Five groups of agarwood compounds were identified: (1) sesquiterpen group—cis-jasmone and aromadendrenepoxide; (2) chromones group—8-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromen-4-one and newly-discovered chromone derivative, 7-(benzyloxy)-5-hydroxy-2-methylchromone found only in G. versteegii; (3) aromatic group—benzylacetone, guaiacol, p-ethylguaiacol, phenol, syringaldehyde, vanilin, furfuryl alcohol, and furfural; (4) fatty acid group—palmitic acid, oleic acid, and lauric acid; and, (5) triterpen group—squalene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]