Dryobalanops, the Potential Tree Species Endangered

to Become Almost Extinct

By

Gusmailina
PUSTEKOLAH : Jalan Gunung Batu No5. Bogor; Tel/Fax (0251) 8633378, 8633413
Email : gsmlina@gmail.com
Summary

Dryobalanops spp. typify as tree species that belong to the family Dipterocarpaceae. This
species essentially provides timber for merchant items, construction, and ship-building. In
addition, this species also yields particular items categorized as non-wood forest products
(NWFP) commodity, such as oil and sap (exudates) which are obtained from its tree stems.
Formerly, this species was very famous for its high-priced oils and valuable camphor crystals,
which should be obtained from the inner portion of its stems. As a result, this action mainly for
such precious crystals brought about intensively uncontrolled cutting/felling of this tree species,
thereby endangering its extinction to the alarming level.
In Indonesia, there are about 7 families of Dryobaranops, but so far only one species
named as aramotica is known to yield such NWFP commodity. This tree species frequently
called as Dryobaranops aramotica nowadays has its habitats become more and more difficult to
find. This tree belongs to one of the scarce species in Indonesia. Even, the IUCN (International
Union for Conservation of Nature) Redlist has listed this tree into a status as Critically
Endangered Species. This status brings this threatened species to such high alert that necessitates
urgent action to overcome its possible extinction. The distribution of D. aramotica in Sumatera
(one of the Indonesia’s archipelago) is widespread covering Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) in
Subulussalam town and Aceh Singkil subdistrict, while in North Sumatera this species grows in
Pak Pak Barat and Tapanuli Tengah subdistricts.
Borneol presents one of the main chemical compounds yielded by the exudates of
Dryobalanops sp. which affords high economic value, and is essentially needed for the synthesis
of cosmetics as well as drugs. Consequently, the reexport of Dryobalanops species deserves
urgently carrying out as an attempt to enrich and enhance its added values.

Keywords: Dryobalanops spp, critically endangered and almost extinct species, camphor oil and
crystal, main chemical compounds, urgent action and attempts

I. Dryobalanops Species
Dryobalanops spp exemplify as tree species that belong to the family Dipterocarpaceae.
Their distribution in Indonesia is widespread that covers Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, North
Sumatera, Riau, and Kalimantan. Dryobalanops are also popular with the name Kapur; and
among the essential species are Dryoblanops aromatica Gaertn. (Kapur singkel), Dryobalanops
fusca V.Sl. (Kapur empedu), Dryobalanops. lanceolata Burck (Kapur tanduk), Dryobalanops
beccarii Dyer (Kapur sintuk), Dryobalanops rappa Becc. (Kapur kayat), Dryobalanops keithii
Symington (kapur gumpait), and Dryobalanops oblongifolia Dyer or the so-called kapur
keladan (Heyne, 1987).
Tong Shaoquan and Tao Gouda (1990) alleged that Dryobalanops consisted of 16
species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars within the genus, among others: D. abnormis,
D. aromatica (Sumatra Camphor), D. beccarii, D. camphora, D. fusca, D. kayanensis, D. keithii,
D. lanceolata, D. neglectus, D. oblongifolia, D. oblongifolia oblongifolia, D. oiocarpa, D.
oocarpa · D. rappa, D. schefferi, and D. sumatrensis. Several taxonomist and botanist explained
in the Wikipedia and http://www.gwannon.com, that Dryobalanops comprised 7 species which
entirely existed in Kalimantan and Sumatera. Unfortunately as of this occasion, the presence of
Dryobalanops in the forest stand areas either in Kalimantan or Sumatera has been very rare or
difficult to seek. In several plantation-forest stand areas and research sites were already planted
several Dryobalanops species such as D. lanceolata dan D. oblongifolia. As a preliminary
research, it is necessary to look into those seven species through the scrutiny on particular
references, as follows:
a. Dryobalanops aromatica, popularly known as Borneo Kamper (Camphor in English), Kamper
Pohon, Melayu Kamper, or Sumatera Kamper. The scientific name of this species is derived
from the Latin language, i.e. aromaticus which implies being “like spices”, and refers to the
dammar (resin) smell. This species becomes one of the camphor sources which affords value
greater than gold, and the camphor commonly used for incenses and perfumes. This situation
induced the Arabic traders at first to come to Indonesia to look for it as merchant commodity,
which could be found in Sumatera, Malay Peninsula, and Kalimantan. The trees of this
species are quite huge and tall reaching 65 m or even 75 m in height. Formerly, this species
could be numerously found in the mixed hutan Dipterocarpaceae forest, which grew on sandy
humic yellowish colored soils, in the protection forest area. The wood portion of this species
is quite heavy and traded under the commerce name Kapur.
b. Dryobalanops rappa. This name is originated from the Iban tribe, i.e. rawa kerapa which
means being “swallow”, and refers to the species habitat. This species is found in the
protected area (Gunung Mulu National Park). However in other locations, this species is
severely threatened due to the loss of its habitat. The trees of this species can reach 55 m
high in growth, and they are frequently found in the mixed coastal peaty swamp forests and

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 in the mountainous forests. The wood portion of this tree species is also categorized as being
heavy, and is sold under the trade name Kapur as well.
c. Dryobalanops keithii. This species was named HG Keiith after a person who in 1899-1982
served as Forest Conservationist in North Borneo (former name of Kalimantan). In
Kalimantan, this species becomes endemic as it is threatened to lose its habitat. The trees of
this species have their canopy which in height can reach 40 m from the ground. There have
been found the mixed Dipterocarpaceae forests either in dry land but with clay soil or in wet
land. The wood portion is heavy, and sold under the trade name kapur as well.
d. Dryobalanops lanceolata. Name of this species is originated from the Latin word, i.e.
lanceolatus which means “shaping like the head of spear”, and refers to the leaf shape. This
species is listed as endemic Kalimantan as well. This is because only a few trees of this
species still exist in the protection forest. However, in other places this species is threatened
due to the loss of habitat. The trees of this species are huge and tall (reaching 80 m in
height), and are found in the field which is rich in clay soil. The wood portion is regarded as
heavy and sold as trade name Kapur.
e. Dryobalanops oblongifolia Name of this species is also derived from the Latin words, i.e.
oblongus and folium, which means consecutively “being long” and “leaf”, and it refers to the
leaf shape. There are two subspecies, and the name of the first subspecies is Dryobalanops
oblongifolia Dyer subsp. oblongifolia Dyer (synonym = Baillonodendron malayanum and
Dryobalanops abnormis). This first subspecies in Kalimantan is also regarded as endemic.
This is because this species is found in the protection forest area, but in other location this
species is threatened due to its habitat loss. The trees of this species can in height reach 60 m
tall, and can be found in the mixed Dipterocarpaceae forests that grow on sandy clay soil.
Further, the name of the second species is Dryobalanops oblongifolia Dyer subsp.
occidentalis P.S. Ashton (sinonim = Dryobalanops beccariana & Dryobalanops ovalifolia),
and can be found in Sumatera and Malay peninsula. The wood portion of both subspecies is
heavy, and sold under the trade name Kapur.

f. Dryobalanops beccarii. Emergent trees up to 57 m tall and 160 cm dbh. Stem with resin.
stipules up to ca. 7 mm long. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, secondary veins very
close together. Flowers ca. 25 mm in diameter, white, placed in panicles. Fruits ca. 19 mm

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 long, green-yellow-reddish, with five wings of ca. 65 mm long placed on the calyx cup, wind
dispersed.

g. Dryobalanops fusca The name of fusca is derived from the Latin word, which means being
“dark-colored”, and refers to the bird feathers with dark color. This species is endemic in
Kalimantan, where it is threatened to become extinct due to the habitat loss. The trees of this
species are huge and in height can reach 60 m tall. It is found in kerangas forests that grow
on coastal area

Dryobalanops aromatica Dryobalanops oblongifolia

Dryobalanops beccarii Dryobalanops lanceolata

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 Dryobalanops fusca Dryobalanops keithii

Figure 1. Dryobalanops species (Ashton, 2004; Anonim, 2007)

II. Borneol, potentially active stuff produced from Dryobalanops species

Borneol is inherently a terpene alcohol that shapes like white-colored powder or crystal,

and resembles also a camphor. It is obtained from the stem portion of Dryobalanops trees, which

prevalently grow in South East Asia. It is used a lot for the synthesis of perfumery stuffs,

antiseptic items, etc (Huo, 1995). In China, boneol is popular with the name Bing pian's, as it

affords the function as anti inflammatory and analgesic. Natural borneol can be hardly ever

found in Europe and the United States. The demand of this commodity in enormous amount

usually comes from China, because China was earlier in utilizing it for drugs and cosmetics,

although the borneol as used is the one originated from Cinnamommum. China also calls such

borneol as Kalimantan camphor, Malay camphor, or camphol.

The elements as utilized from kapur (Dryobalanops) trees consist of kapur crystal

(camphor) and kapur oil (camphor oil). The camphor is obtained from the inner (center) portion

of tree stems. Those two elements do not always exist in the kapur trees, particularly those

already with ages 100 years old, or those which are still too young (Vurren,1908 in: Sutrisna,

2008). In the older times, the procuring of camphor was comprised of several stages, beginning

from the tree felling, followed with stem cutting into the rectangular woody shapes. The

selecting of trees does not always ensure that the desired things (i.e. camphor) will be

successfully obtained. The tree felling is frequently done arbitrarily or indiscriminately before

finally a tree stem can be found that contains camphor. If later such trees can be found and

indeed contain camphor, then it can begin with the collecting or procuring of camphor. There are

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two manners for such collecting/procuring; in the first manner, the rectangular-shaped woody

stems were cut to smaller pieces. In the second manner, the camphor procuring can also be done

by stripping off the bark portion from each of the rectangular-shaped stems. From each of the

tree felled down, as much 1.5-2.5 kg can be obtained as the camphor with specific or differing

qualities. In the third manner, this is another way to directly collect the camphor from the

standing kapur trees, which naturally oozes out through the bark pores. The third way is better

than that of the first and second, as the camphor is obtained by just tapping the tree stem, thereby

not necessarily felling the trees.

Figure 2. The presence of camphor crystal as identified on cross section surface of D. keithii, D.
lanceolata, D. oblongifolia, D. Rappa tree stems, inside the cells of axial parenchyma
tissues (Source: Toshihiro Yamada and Eizi Suzuki, 2004)

Borneol (C10H18O) distributed extensively and enormously in nature as the the component
in essential (volatile) oil. In the pure borneol industries, the borneol together with isoborneol is
used as the ingredient that makes up perfumes and esterifying-stuffs. Borneol is inherently
poisonous which can impair the human mental. One of the borneol uses is as additive stuff for
woman bandage (biopanty) which can be helpful to reduce pain and stress during menstrual
periods, lessen muscle and human-joint soreness, and help cleansing human’s cold blood, and
prevent microorganism proliferation. (Choi, 2003; and Duke, 2005).

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 Figure 3. Chemical structure of borneol

Borneol compound is enormously present in particular plants other than in the sap/exudates
of Dryobalanops spp plant, such as sembung, kencur, ginger, sage, thyme, and still other pants.
Even nilam oil contains in small concentration (Chung and Shibamoto, 1993)
Recently, the borneol originated from Dryobalanops plants is sought a lot by researchers,
herbalists, and traders. This is because the use of such borneol just in relatively small quantity is
able to melt the frozen blood in the blood-freezing case as well as the plugging of blood veins in
human heart and brain (Dharmananda, 2003).
The information regarding the productivity, quantity, and quality of borneol from
Dryobalanops spp as the non-wood forest product sources is still not much available, and even
almost none. Several institutions have conducted research on borneol, mostly originated from
sembung and temu-temuan plants. In fact, the borneal originating from Dryobalanops species
affords high economic value and is urgently needed for the synthesis of cosmetic and drug
products. It is presumed that that the borneol from Dryobalanops exhibits better qualities than
that from other plants, however, this allegation needs further and thorough investigation.

II. The Extinction of Potential Dryobalanops in Sumatera

In North Sumatera, kapur (Dryobalanops aromatica C. F. Gaertn) trees get more difficult to
find at their habitat. These trees have been regarded as scarce in Indonesia. Even, the IUCN
(International Union for Conservation of Nature) Redlist has listed this species into the
Critically Endangered or critical status. This status reveals the situation on the highest alertness
prior to the extinct status. Dryobalanops aromatica C. F. Gaertn trees grow mostly in the mixed
Dipterocarp forests up to 300 meters above sea level (asl). The distribution of this scarce tree
species begins from Indonesia (Sumatera and Kalimantan islands) and Malaysia (Malay

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peninsula, Sabah, and Serawak). According to Heyne (1987), in Sumatera the potency of
Dryobalanops is widespread covering North Sumatera, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, Riau, and
West Sumatera. In Sumatera, this species besides being named as kapur or barus, is also called
haburuan or kaberun. Meanwhile, in Kalimantan it is also called ampadu, amplang, kapur,
kayatan, keladan, melampit, mengkayat, mohoi, muri, and sintok. In English, this species is
called as borneo camphor, camphor tree, Malay camphor or Indonesian campho. Meanwhile, in
latin (scientific) language it earns the name Dryobalanops aromatica, which is synonym to
Dryobalanops sumatrensis (JF Gmel.) Kosterm., Laurus sumatrensis JF Gmel., Arbor
camphorifera Rumph., Dipterocarpus dryobalanops Steud., Dipterocarpus teres Steud,
Dryobalanops camphora Colebr., Dryobalanops junghuhnii Becc., Dryobalanops vriesii Becc
Correa., Pterigium teres, and Shorea camphorifera Roxb (Heyne, 1987).
In North Suamtera, the tree of species in the past was known as the producer of camphor
(kapur barus) and therefore there is a town there called barus after the name of that product.
Camphor from kapur trees has become essential trade commodity since the seven Century A.D.
Unfortunately, these trees become hard to find or almost none. The scarcity and extinct danger
of this species are brought about by its indiscriminate tree felling to obtain kapur barus
(camphor) crystals. Another threat is due to forest degradation and fire as well as land
conversion into oil-palm plantation, thereby accelerating the extinction of Dryobalanops species.
The information referring to the survey results conducted in August 2011 reveals that in
1980-1990 the potency of Dryobalanops was still quite abundant and managed by the
community surrounding the forests. However, since the last 10 years those plants have been
seemingly extinct due to almost no replanting activities and also because their growing sites have
been replaced with oil-palm plantation. Other information as gathered from the former collector
of Dryobalanops exudates in the Barus subdistrict; the places of Barus, Sorkam, and also Singkil
(West Aceh) about 3.5 hour vehicle drive from Barus once served as the potential site for
camphor production during the Dutch colonization. Barus place became the center for producer
of camphor exudates, crystals, and oil which in the olden days were sold at Rp. 50,000 – 100,000
per kg of exudates. Meanwhile, the camphor oil is useful as drugs to warm human body.
Unfortunately, that convenient thing is now left just as sad story because Dryobalanops can no
longer be found there (in Barus place).

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 In 2012, there were exploration activities conducted in the Nangroe Aceh province, located
at the Wildlife Conservation Park of Bukit Kapur, in Subulussalam town. Results revealed that
the status of camphor region was not yet definitive, and several possible statuses in the future
proposed that region as Town Forest or Community Forest Park. In Subulussalam, the forest
area reaches approximately 40,000 ha that covers wildlife conservation area, production forest,
and protection forest. Identification results revealed that kapur (Dryobalanops) species in
Subulussalam was of Dryobalanops aromatica that grows as forest tree stands on area situated at
250-430 m asl.
The condition of the site where D. aromatica tree stands grow is located at the provincial
road sides, which connected Subulussalam (Aceh) to West Pakpak (North Sumatera), where its
physical position is quite steep. D. aromatica tree stands grow in association with various
meranti tree species and other Dipterocarpaceae groups. Their tree stands were quite dense, with
very convenient re-vegetation as shown by a lot of seedlings and other plants at undergrowth,
sapling, and pole stages. D. aromatica trees in diameter can grow to the range of 50-120 cm.

III. Potency of Dryobalanops in Kalimantan

Similar to the situation in North Sumatera, in East Kalimantan the Dryobalanops trees of
species is hardly able to be found in natural forests. This was stated by Dr. Ir. Kade Sidvase, a
senior researcher in the botany field at the Semboja’s Food Plant Research and Development
Institute (personal communication, 2011). It was also mentioned that from several
Dryobalanops species which grew widespread in Kalimantan, there were only a few that still left
among others: Dryobalanops rappa Becc.; and Dryobalanops fusca Slooten in West Kalimantan
along the Kapuas river and at Ketapang, Dryobalanops keithii Symington possibly in Sandakan,
Nunukan, and Malinoks. Meanwhile, Dryobalanops species still present at the Research Forest
in Samarinda and Semboja comprised Dryobalanops lanceolata, and those mostly with the tree
diameter below 30 cm thereby, thereby unable to be tapped or have the bark portion stripped off
for the exudates (sap). In the experiment garden station (EGS/arborethum) and site for Forest
Conservation and Forestry Plants (FCFP/HDTK) at Semoboja region, only one Dryobalanops
species that can be found, namely D. lanceolata. Likewise, at the experiment garden station of
the Research and Development Institute for Diperocarpaceaa in Samarinda, there were also
found several Dryobalanops lanceolata trees but their diameter below 10 years.

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Figure 4. Dryobalanops lanceolata at the experiment forest of the Research and Development
Institute for Diperocarpaceaa in Samarinda

Figure 5. Dryobalanops aromatica that grew in the forest at border between Indonesia’s
Kalimantan and Mlaysia’s Serawak

In East Kalimantan, there was found only one species, i.e. Dryobalanops lanceolata. The

species of Dryobalanops aromatica was found in Indonesia’s forest area bordering with

Malaysia’s Serawak. The specific characteristics of this tree species was the tapering end of the

youngest leaves with reddish color. The trees aged approximately 15-20 years old with their

diameter about 40 cm. Consequently, it deserves thorough exploration for the regions of West

Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Meanwhile for Sumatera, exploration

is necessary for Aceh, West Sumatera, Riau, and Jambi. The latest information as obtained was

that bahwa Dryobalanops species still existed in Aceh and Riau Archipelago.

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CONCLUDING REMARKS

From the survey as already conducted in North Sumatera as well as East Kalimantan, it

reveals that Dryobalanops species become rarely found. Consequently, it necessitates an urgent

exploration considering that this species affords potential benefits for human health for now as

well as in the future. The exudates as released by Dryobalanops tree species contain chemical

compounds, particularly borneol, which are highly valuable for the synthesis of cosmetic and

drug products. In addition, alternative utilization of Dryobalanops exudates deserves further

development to enhance its high added value.

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