Alternative Tree for Conservation - Trembesi Tree

Alternative Tree for Conservation

Trembesi Tree

Environmental problems are hot issue recently. And these are no exaggeration to say that. We know that without environment we can not life and any environmental problems that occur, like weather change, acid rain, the reduce of ozon  layer and the most familiar “global warming” are very disturb our life. That’s why, all of us race to conserve environment with any slogan, for example “ Save Our Earth”, “Let’s Go Green” and “Make Green Our Earth”.

Most of institution has dedicated their self as eco-friendly or conservatory institution. For example Semarang State University declared itself as a conservation university. On earth day last year, Indonesian government had been verbalizing and “One Man One Tree” program. Did you know what tree is selected to be  icon in this program? The answer is Trembessi tree. Why did they choose Trembesi tree? What are the potential advantages of this tree compared with another trees? How is the description of this tree? Are there any alternative conservation trees?

Trembesi tree, do you know about this tree? It has big stem, spherical and high between 10-20 meters. The surface of the steam is rough, groove and brown-blackness color. The leaf is complex leaf and double pinnatus. A leaf has oblongus shape with length 2-6 cm, width 1-4 cm, flat leafside, green color and slippery surface.

Trembesi has red-yellowness flower. It produce black pea-shaped fruits with 30-40 cm in length. Inside the fruit there are some hard oval-shaped seeds with length about 5 mm and brown blackness color.

This tree is supposed originate from Mexico, Peru and Brazil. But it has been dispersed in all of tropical climate zone, include Indonesia.

Trembesi tree ( Albizia saman or Samanea saman) also known as “Ki Hujan”. It because the capability to absorb is very strong, so water is often dripping. At some districts in Indonesia, this tree also called as Kayu Ambon (Malay), Trembesi, Munggur, Punggur, Meh (Java). In English Trembesi has some name, such as: East Indian Walnut, Rain Tree, Saman Tree, Acacia Preta, and False Powder Puff. And in other countries it called as Pukul Lima (Malaysia), Jamjuree (Thailand), Cay Mura (Vietnam), Vilaiti Siris (India), Bhagaya Mara (Canada), Algarrobo (Cuba), Campano (Colombia), Regenbaum (Germany), Chorona (Portugal).

Trembesi has special characteristic that make our government choose it to conserve Indonesia. Its canopy like umbrella with leaf size is no more than Rp 100 coin. But it is the most excellent to absorb CO2.

All of us know that every green plant absorb CO2 to photosynthesis. But, do you know that one tree can absorb 20-30 gr a day. So, how about Trembesi? Doctor of forestry of  Bogor Institute of Agriculture Dr. Ir. Endes N. Dahlan has researched 43 kinds of trees that is often be used to reforesting project. And the result proved that Trembesi tree is the most superior to absorb CO2. Besed on the research, one Trembesi tree could absorb 28.488,39 kg CO2 a year. It mean 78,05 kg CO2 could be absorbed by this tree a day. It’s big numeral, isn’t it?

Look at the table of comparison about absorption capability of trees.

	Local name	Scientific name	Absorption Capability CO2(Kg/tree/year)
1	Trembesi	Samanea saman	28.448,39
2	Cassia	Cassia sp	5.295,47
3	Kenanga	Canangium odoratum	756,59
4	Pingku	Dysoxylum excelsum	720,49
5	Beringin	Ficus benyamina	535,90
6	Krey paying	Fellicium decipiens	404,83
7	Matoa	Pornetia pinnata	329,76
8	Mahoni	Swettiana mahagoni	295,73
9	Saga	Adenanthera pavoniana	221,18
10	Bungkur	Lagerstroema speciosa	160,14
11	Jati	Tectona grandis	135,27
12	Nangka	Arthocarpus heterophyllus	126,51
13	Johar	Cassia grandis	116,25
14	Sirsak	Annona muricata	75,29
15	Puspa	Schima wallichii	63,31
16	Akasia	Acacia auriculiformis	48,68
17	Flamboyan	Delonix regia	42,20
18	Sawo kecik	Manilkara kauki	36,19
19	Tanjung	Mimusops elengi	34,29
20	Bunga merak	Caesalpinia pulcherrima	30,95
21	Sempur	Dilena retusa	24,24
22	Khaya	Khaya anthotheca	21,90
23	Merbau pantai	Intsia bijuga	19,25
24	Akasia	Acacia mangium	15,19
25	Angsana	Pterocarpus indicus	11,12
26	Asam kranji	Pithecelobium dulce	8,48
27	Saputangan	Maniltoa grandiflora	8,26
28	Dadap merah	Erythrina cristagalli	4,55
29	Rambutan	Nephelium lappaceum	2,19
30	Asam	Tamarindus indica	1,49
31	Kempas	Coompasia excels	0,20

Statistics:
1-2       : Very high
3-5       : High
6-10     : Rather high
11-16   : Medium
17-24   : Low
24-31   : Very low

According the table above we know that Trembesi is the most superior tree to absorb CO2 and the second place is Cassia tree. The comparison of  absorption capability of  Trembesi tree with oter trees are significant. This ia the first reason why Trembesi is the best choice for conservation.

Trembesi also multifunctional tree. Its roots can absorb water maximally. It suitabel for critical land or mountain to prevent landslide and flashflood. The stem is used as material building. The seed usually called “Mindhik” (Siter or Godril) not only as snack (like kwaci) but also function as laxative. And the leaf also can be used for skin disease medicine.

But unfortunately, this tree has so big and wide root lines, so it often damage buildings around it. Beside that, it has thick foliage that usually cover other plant under it, so the plant can not growth well.

From the explanation above, with all positive and negative side Trembesi is the best plant to reduce air pollution and to keep global warming down than any trees in the world. It is the greatest CO2 absorbing plant. And all of its body parts are usefull for us.

Refferences

vibizdaily.com/.../pohon_trembesi_untuk_kehidupan_yang_lebih_baik - Cached –

alamendah.wordpress.com/.../pohon-trembesi-ki-hujan-serap-28-ton-co2/

Trubus magazine. 64^th Anniversary edition