Tree slenderness coefficient at Bali Botanic Garden

Abstract

Standing trees has a higher risk regarding structural damage that can cause trees or parts of trees to fail. Meanwhile, Bali Botanic Garden is located in a highland area that periodically gets natural disasters such as heavy wind. However, the information on tree stability is little known. Therefore, tree stability at Bali Botanic Garden was assessed using tree slenderness coefficient (SC) as an indicator. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for locations which highly visited. A total of 624 trees with dbh>40 cm were examined as samples. Trees were classified based on their SC as high (>80), moderate (SC:70-80), low (SC<70). Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlation analysis. Tree slenderness coefficient at Bali Botanic Garden classified as low (609 specimens), medium (11 specimens), and high (4 specimens). Trees with the high category were three individuals of Bischofia javanica Blume (SC=82.76, 83.69, and 89.63) and a Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. (SC=116.13). Trees with high SC had a higher susceptibility to wind-induced damage. There was a negative correlation between SC and others tree parameters except for tree height (r=0.44). Hence appropriate silvicultural treatment like thinning is recommended to enhance better tree development and minimize tree risk.