Tree Conservation Information Service
| Intsia bijuga
Leguminosae Common/Trade name Indonesia and Malaysia: Merbau. Philippines: ipil. Papua New Guinea: kwila. Local names Cambodia: krakas prek. Indonesia: merbau (general), ipil (Sulawesi), ipi (Nusa Tenggara). Malaysia: merbau ipil (Sarawak, Sabah), kayu besi (Peninsular). Philippines: Ipil, Ipil laut, Moluccan Ironwood, Borneo Teak (UK), Kwila. Papua New Guinea: bendora, kwila, pas. Thailand: lumpaw, lumpho-thale (Surat Thani), pradu-thale (Central). Guam: Ifil. Samoa: Ifi-lele. Fiji: Vesi. Solomon Islands: U'ula. Viet Nam: Go Nuoc, g[ox] n[uw] [ows]s (general), b[aaf]n [ooj]i (southern). Distribution American Samoa, Australia, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar (at low altitudes in the west), Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, Tanzania, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Habitat It is a tree of lowland, tropical rain forest which is often found in coastal areas bordering mangrove swamps, rivers, or floodplains. It is also found inland up to 600m, in primary or old secondary forests (Soerianegara & Lemmens, 1993, Kade Sidiyasa 1994). Population status and trends Intsia bijuga produces one of the most valuable timbers of South East Asia. The species has been exploited so intensively for timber that in most countries few trees are left in natural stands. There have been few attempts to cultivate the species in plantations and the species was said to face imminent disappearance as an economic plant (National Academy of Sciences, 1979). Good stands still exist in parts of Indonesia, mainly Irian Jaya, and Papua New Guinea where it is found mainly in the Sepik and Madang provinces. In Papua New Guinea, Intsia bijuga is the more dominant than I. palembanica; however, this is reversed in Peninsular Malaysia. I. bijuga is never abundant in Peninsular Malaysia and rarely achieves timber size (Ser, 1982). The species has been recorded as threatened in Indonesia and Vulnerable in the Philippines (WCMC, 1991-check or ITTO report). The species is considered to be almost extinct in Sabah (Meijer, pers. comm. 1997). Utilisation This very attractive wood is one of the most valued timbers throughout South East Asia. It is stronger than Teak and is one of the most decay-resistant timbers known (when not in contact with the ground); in the Philippines it is used as a standard against which the durability of other timbers is assessed (National Academy of Sciences, 1979). Used for all high-class general construction, flooring (it produces the famous 'merbau floors'), posts, beams, etc. and also for musical instruments, furniture and cabinet making. Bark and leaves are used medicinally and the seeds are edible. In addition, the wood is a dye source. Trade The main importing countries are the Netherlands, where the wood is used for windows and doors, and Germany. Production of merbau has recently become more important in Indonesia, with production of about 137,000 m3 in 1992. The main production area is Irian Jaya and production is also significant in Aceh and the Moluccas. Japan imports kwila from Papua New Guinea, Sabah and Sarawak (Soerianegara & Lemmens, 1993). Approximately 4% of logs exported from Papua New Guinea are I. bijua and I. palembanica (Eddowes, 1997). In 1995, Fiji exported 1000 m3 of sawnwood at an average FOB price of 413$/m3 (ITTO, 1996). Malaysia (Peninsular) exported 42000 m3 of sawnwood a an average FOB price of 466$/m3 in 1995 (ITTO, 1996). IUCN Conservation category VU A1cd according to UNEP-WCMC Conservation measures
Legislation: Philippines - Classified as a premium hardwood under the DENR Administrative Order No. 78 Series of 1987, Interim Guidelines on the cutting/gathering of Narra and other premium hardwood species. Under this Order special permission from the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is required to fell Intsia bijuga, and various conditions are specified. Presence in protected areas Indonesia
Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Manusela Wai Nua/Wai Mual National
Park, Moluccas Forest management and silviculture Trials in the Solomon Islands have shown that it is easily established either from seed or as forest wildings potted in the nursery. The potential of the species in these trials was shown by the fact that the quickest growing individuals added 2 m height each year, but little general information is available about the full plantation potential of the species. Further research on silviculture is urgently needed (National Academy of Sciences, 1979). Some planting in Madagascar (Departement des Eaux et Forets, 1993). References Amerson,
A.B., W.A. Whistler, & T.D. Schwaner. 1982. Wildlife and wildlife
habitat of American Samoa. II: Accounts of flora and fauna. Washington,
DC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 151pp.
|
For help with this web site contact:
|
UNEP World Conservation
Monitoring Centre |
Information Enquiries |
| Document URL: http://www.unep-wcmc.org
/trees/trade/int_bij.htm
|
|
