The Kehje Sewen Ecosystem Restoration Concession Forest, located in East Kalimantan, is covered in an array of different flora, including many endangered tree species. One such species is a particularly large tree that reaches the canopy and is found in forests across Kalimantan, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula.

Our post-release monitoring (PRM) team at Camp Nles Mamse has been able to find this tree species - Shorea platyclados - whilst conducting regular phenology surveys. These surveys are important as they focus on the collection of data about the countless plants found in the forest. This tree, commonly known as the dark red meranti, belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family, and is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. The dark red meranti is under threat of extinction due to habitat loss and exploitation, so much so, that we are lucky to still be able to see it growing in the Kehje Sewen Forest. This tree can grow to a height of more than 50 metres, with a diameter of up to two metres.

The dark red meranti can only be found in undisturbed, natural forests, where it thrives in fertile, red-brown soils. Dark red meranti wood is strong and is commonly used as a construction material in the production of furniture and of railroad mounts.

As a commercial timber, dark red meranti is often over-exploited. Without suitable conservation efforts in place, populations of this tree species could decline until it becomes extinct. To prevent this from happening, and to ensure that future generations get to see the massive dark red meranti in all its glory, we must protect the forests in which it grows to provide a safe haven in which it can flourish.

Text by: PRM Team from Camp Nles Mamse, Kehje Sewen Forest, East Kalimantan