Importance Value Index Vegetation Purwawinangun Coastal Village, Suranenggala District, Cirebon Regency

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the Importance Value Index (INP) of mangrove vegetation in the Purwawinangun Village area, Suranenggala Subdistrict, Cirebon Regency. The research was conducted over a period of three months, from June to August 2023, with the study area divided into three observation sites based on specific geographic coordinates. A survey approach was employed using purposive sampling. Vegetation data were collected using the transect line plot method and subsequently analyzed to determine the INP for each mangrove species. The results revealed that the mangrove species with the highest density, in descending order, were Avicennia marina (7,666.67 trees/ha), Acanthus ilicifolius (2,300 trees/ha), Rhizophora mucronata (900 trees/ha), Pluchea indica (666.67 trees/ha), Sonneratia caseolaris (300 trees/ha), and both Leucaena leucocephala and Jatropha curcas L. (66.67 trees/ha each). Rhizophora mucronata recorded the highest frequency (37.5%), highest relative canopy cover (53.10%), and a canopy closure value of 0.96. This species also exhibited the highest INP  at 95.58%, while Leucaena leucocephala had the lowest at 8.32%. These findings indicate that Rhizophora mucronata ecologically dominates the mangrove community in the study area. Its dominance is attributed to its strong adaptability to varying salinity levels, water depth, and muddy soil characteristics. This species plays a crucial role in sustaining mangrove ecosystem resilience and provides significant ecological benefits for coastal protection against erosion and climate-related changes.