Plant Diversity with High Conservation Value in Oil Palm Plantation in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo, Indonesia

Ecological transformations resulting from forest-to-plantation conversion remain a critical challenge in balancing oil palm production with biodiversity conservation. This study assessed plant diversity in the plasma oil palm plantations of PT. Loka Indah Lestari in Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo, Indonesia, from June to September 2024. Using belt transects and purposive sampling across forest and plantation sites, researchers identified 47 families, 85 genera, and 111 species. Forest plots supported 79 species, while plantations supported only 56, reflecting a significant reduction in richness and vegetation complexity. Forest sites exhibited diverse growth forms—trees, lianas, ferns, epiphytes—while plantations were dominated by herbs and shrubs, with limited tree regeneration. Eight Sulawesi endemics, including Diospyros celebica and Dysoxylum quadrangulatum, were categorized as Vulnerable and Syzygium balgooyi as Near Threatened under IUCN criteria. In addition, 64 species had medicinal uses and 59 species provided multipurpose values, ranging from food and fodder to construction and crafts. These findings reveal that even within monoculture landscapes, remnant habitats retain high conservation value and provide essential cultural and livelihood functions. The results highlight the ecological and social trade-offs of land conversion and underscore the necessity of embedding High Conservation Value assessments into plantation management. The persistence of endemic and culturally important plants demonstrates opportunities for conservation-oriented certification schemes such as ISPO. This study provides insights into the planning of sustainable oil palm plantation landscapes that integrate economic interests of palm oil production, the ecological functions of the landscape, and conservation of endemic species, as well as the role of ethnobotany in strengthening the socio-economic and cultural dimensions of local communities.