A widely distributed tree of coastal lowland forest. Forest conversion has led to a suspected decline of almost 30%.
Distribution
Recorded from China: Hainan Island; Malesia: Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Jawa, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands (Flores, Timor), Philippines (Luzon), Maluku [Moluccas] (Aru, Obi, Weda);and Papuasia: New Guinea (incl. Misool and Numfoor Islands), Bismarck Archipelago. A primarily insular species with a very wide distribution.
Habitat and Ecology
Podocarpus rumphii is a constituent of lowland to lower montane tropical rainforests, where it can be locally common. It is likely to be confused with the similarly widespread but more ubiquitous species P. neriifolius, which can have similarly large leaves (but usually narrower) and differs in characters not always observable in specimens. The altitude ranges from sea level to 1,600 m, but most collections are from below 500 m a.s.l. In Jawa it is found on limestone, on other islands also on soils ranging from clay to sand derived from acidic rock types. In tall forest (40-50 m) it can reach into the canopy, successfully competing with angiosperms. The large leaves of saplings to pole stage trees could be an adaptation to growing in shade under other trees; they become smaller, narrower and more leathery and stiff in sun-exposed crowns of larger trees.
Human Uses
Podocarpus rumphii is a valuable timber tree where it attains large sizes with a clear, straight bole. Its wood is used as roundwood for masts, spars, and poles, in house construction as beams, in high-grade construction for flooring, joinery and other carpentry, for furniture and cabinet work, veneer, to make boxes and for match sticks. In traditional use it was sought after for dugout canoes, used in coastal house construction, for household utensils and wood carving. The majority of the timber that is used comes from the wild; reafforestation programmes in the Philippins that have included P. rumphii have found that its growth rate is much lower than other native species (Bullercer & Socorin 2013; Schneider et al. 2014)
Conservation Status
Global Status
Near Threatened
Global Rationale
Despite its vast range and occurrence in many locations where the forest remains undisturbed, there is evidence of decline due to logging, especially in the Philippines. The extent of the decline may be approaching 30% over the past 75 years (=three generations), so almost qualifies for listing as threatened under criterion A2cd. Therefore it is listed as Near Threatened.
Conservation Actions
This species is known from several protected areas within its extensive range, for example
Bawean Island Nature Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (Trimanto and Hipsari 2016)
Trimanto & L. Hipsari 2016. Botanical survey in thirteen montane forests of Bawean Island Nature Reserve, East Java Indonesia: Flora diversity, conservation status, and bioprospecting. Biodiversitas 17(2): 832-846
Schneider, T., Ashton, M.A., Montagnini, F. & P.P. Milan 2014.Growth performance of sixty tree species in smallholder reforestation trials on Leyte, Philippines. New Forests DOI 10.1007/s11056-013-9393-5
Bullecer, R. & L. Socorin 2013.Growth performance of planted indigenous trees 12 years
from establishment. International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development 4(1) 118-123