Bird Diversity in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Plantation Landscapes as a Conservation Model

Abstract

Data and information on avian species diversity in oil palm plantations in West Sulawesi remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of bird species found in an oil palm plantation landscape located in the Minti Watershed, Pasangkayu, West Sulawesi. The bird community was surveyed using the point count method at 126 stations distributed across eight sites representing different habitat types: secondary forest (4 sites), oil palm plantations (2 sites; managed by a company and local communities), and riparian areas (2 sites). The similarity in species composition among the survey stations was analyzed using the Bray-Curtis similarity index and visualized with Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS). A Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to compare the number of individuals and species among the sites. A total of 82 bird species from 36 families were identified within the Minti Watershed's oil palm landscape. Secondary forests exhibited the highest species diversity and abundance, while oil palm plantations were dominated by insectivorous bird species. Cluster analysis and NMDS results indicated that habitat type significantly influences bird species composition. Forest fragments and riparian habitats are crucial for supporting bird diversity in the Minti Watershed's plantation landscape. Therefore, bird conservation strategies in this region should adopt a multi-habitat approach that integrates the management of secondary forests, oil palm plantations, and riparian zones.