Click here to open feedback window. Annex 2. Profiles of Tree Species: Asia 267 Ailanthus integrifolia Simaroubaceae ai lanit, kayu ruris, pohon langit, malasapsap, balokas, makaisa, white siris Distribution India (Assam), Papua New Guinea (Bismark Archipelago), Solomon Islands, Viet Nam, and all islands in Malesia except Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Habitat Mixed seasonal primary rainforest up to 900 m. Trees are scattered, never gregarious, in valleys along streams and in open locations. It is most often found on well-drained deep soils like fertile sandy loams. Population status and trends Although the species has a large distribution it is rare in most regions. It is locally common in New Guinea (Lemmens, Soerianegara and Wong, 1995). Role of species in the ecosystem Threats Utilisation The wood is used for house building, furniture manufacture, paper pulp, fuel and charcoal amongst other things. The leaves, bark, roots and resin have medicinal properties. The leaves also provide a black dye and the resin is burnt for its fragrance. Trade The timber is sometimes traded together with similar timber as ‘mixed light-coloured hardwood’. Japan imports small amounts of white siris mainly from Papua New Guinea but it is not thought to be present in European trade (WCMC, 1991). In Papua New Guinea logs fetch a minimum price of US$43/m³. IUCN Conservation category LR/lc according to the Asia Regional Workshop (WCMC, 1997). Conservation measures A close relative of the tree of heaven (A. altissima), this species is also widely planted. Forest management and silviculture The species is propagated by seed. Plantations have been developed in certain areas, for example in Java and India, but the timber is sourced from the wild in Papua New Guinea. It is believed that the establishment of plantations may benefit from a taungya system in which a low annual crop such as chilli or eggplant is planted in the first year. The species is fast-growing. Planted trees in Java showed an annual increment of 15m³/ha in the first ten years. In India increments of 20m³/ha have been attained. On suitable sites the timber may be harvested at 35-40 years. Natural regeneration of planted trees has been observed to occur after four years but seed production is variable. In the wild regeneration is poor in the shade but more successful in open weed-free situations. In summary the species has great plantation development, especially if seed production can be better controlled  (Lemmens, Soerianegara and Wong, 1995). References Asia Regional Workshop. 1997. Discussions held during the Third Regional Workshop for the WCMC/SSC Conservation and sustainable management of trees project, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 18-21 August 1997. Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Soerianegara, I. & Wong, W.C. (Eds.) 1995. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 5(2) Timber Trees: Minor commercial timbers. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden 655pp. WCMC. 1991. Provision of data on rare and threatened tropical timber species. Unpublished report, prepared under contract to the EC. WCMC. 1997. Report on the Third Regional Workshop held at Hanoi, Viet Nam, 18- 21 August 1997WCMC/SSC Conservation and sustainable management of trees project.