Kapur (or kapor) is a dipterocarp hardwood from trees of the genus Dryobalanops found in lowland tropical rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and South-East Asia. [1] It is a durable construction tropical timber. One variety, D. aromatica , is a source of camphor.
The name kapur can refer to the following species from the Dryobalanops genus:[ citation needed ]
Kapur is logged from old-growth forest, often illegally. These forests have developed over the course of hundreds of years. When harvested, these trees are often between 250 and 1000 years old. [2] For a tree from the family Dipterocarpaceae, it takes approximately 100 years to reach a height of 30 meters. [3] Most of the species that are sold as kapur are listed on the IUCN Red List for endangered species. For example, D. fusca is critically endangered. [4]
Overexploitation has led to large scale deforestation in the tropics. The International Tropical Timber Organization is concerned with conserving the habitat of trees producing tropical timber.[ citation needed ]
According to FSC, certified tropical hardwood can counteract deforestation. Forests that are managed according to the FSC standards, become economically valuable and might therefore not be converted to farmland. [5] However, other organisations advise consumers to stay away from kapur altogether to avoid logging of centuries-old trees. [6] [7]