Cemara

Cemara is the common Indonesian and Malay name for pine trees, referring to species in the genus Pinus of the family Pinaceae. In local usage, cemara describes both native and introduced pines and is used broadly in forestry, horticulture, and landscaping rather than for a single species. The best-known Indonesian example is Pinus merkusii, commonly called Java pine, native to parts of Indonesia and widely planted for timber and reforestation; other commonly planted pines in the region include Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster.

Pines are evergreen conifers characterized by needle-like leaves clustered in bundles and woody cones; they typically form tall, straight trunks and broad canopies, and they are adapted to a range of climates from temperate to subtropical. Cemara species are used for timber, resin production, and as ornamental trees in parks and gardens; they are also planted as windbreaks, soil stabilizers, and, in some communities, for Christmas decorations.

In forestry and horticulture, the term cemara can refer to both tall, slender tree forms and dwarf ornamental cultivars used for hedges or landscaping. Conservation concerns for pine species in general stem from logging and habitat loss, with regional assessments varying by species. The term cemara itself does not denote a single taxon, but a vernacular umbrella for several Pinus species encountered in Indonesian and Malay-speaking regions.