BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN LAKE TOBA ECOSYSTEM

Abstract

Lake Toba, like other lakes in the world, provided services to people live in surrounding area. It provided plants from which people utilised food, herbs, wood, as well as types of fish from the lake. In addition to this provision service, the lake also provided regulating service, cultural service. Some studies revealed that the ecosystem has been changed especially in past decades due to population growth and development purposes. Human activities caused change of ecosystem. Widespread deforestation, shifting of land use pattern, and intensive agricultural practices in catchment area of Lake Toba contributed both directly and indirectly to the plant diversity. Not many available references documented the variety of indigenous flora and fauna in the area, however through interview with local inhabitant in the area, it was found that many of known local species were become difficult to find. This paper spelt out some of rare if not endangered plant species such as pine, mobe, antarasa, andalehat, and sijungkot. As to fish, ihan Batak is already listed as endangered spesies. Some of them have direct or indirect supports to the food security and sustainable environment.