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Bamboo and rattan (3)

Last of three parts

There is a great difference between harvesting rattan and plain timber logging. Rattan gatherers have to be as tough and resilient as their target vine.

First, they need to pull down the climbing stems from the forest canopy. This is dangerous work, since the rattan is not only very spiny, but hauling them down may also dislodge dead branches and disturb nests of vicious ants and wasps.

The gatherers must then quickly strip off the spiny sheaths, leaves and whips to expose the bare cane. Believe me: it is a laborious and tedious process. The bare canes are then hauled out of the forest for further processing.

Thin canes are dried in the sun and often smoked over burning sulfur, while large canes are boiled in oil to remove excess moisture and natural gums, and to prevent attack by wood-borers.

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As market forces crept into the forest regions of Southeast Asia through the years, rattan’s indigenous uses gradually turned commercial, supplying raw stocks for manufactured furniture, basketry and matting. Southeast Asian countries cashed in by exporting rattan to other countries.

Thus grew the rattan export industry, estimated to be worth at least US$6 billion annually. About 20 species of rattan, most of it harvested wild from tropical rainforests, are now sold in the world’s markets. Indonesia, the leading exporter, produces more than 80% of traded rattan.

Previously, much of the rattan cane was sold to manufacturers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and North America. In recent years, however, some producing countries have banned raw rattan exports to spur local furniture production (also for export, of course) and to help conserve wild rattan. But in other areas without such restrictions, severe exploitation has nearly depleted wild rattan sources.

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Over the last few decades, forest destruction and over-harvesting has rapidly decreased the natural habitat of rattans. In the mid-1970s, this concern drove several Southeast Asian countries to experiment with cultivated rattan.

Research has shown that some rattan species, such as the thin-stemmed Calamus trachycoleus, can be grown and sustainably harvested on acidic land near rivers subject to severe and prolonged flooding. Since such lands are not suited for many other crops, anyway, rattan cropping could expand without sacrificing food crops.

During the late 1970s, other species, including the thick-stemmed Calamus manna, were successfully domesticated. Currently, around five of the 600 rattan species are being cultivated.

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Despite current limitations, cultivated rattan is a promising source of livelihood because the plant can grow in otherwise non-arable areas, and because it grows very fast (as much as 6 meters a year). Also, since rattan can be planted on a small scale, poor farmers can earn extra cash from small parcels of land.

Remember that rattan can only grow to its full length under some sort of tree cover, such as logged-over or secondary forests, orchards, and tree plantations. Thus, rattan cropping preserves tree cover and even encourages reforestation.

Along with tree cover, rattan can also restore and maintain forest wildlife. Rattan growth could provide ample food and protection for insect life, birds, rodents, squirrels and small insectivores, or even bigger monkey and ape populations over wider forested areas.

Thus, rattan planting promotes biodiversity and poly-agriculture on scales that favor small farmers and livelihood-oriented cooperatives, not mono-agriculture on large scales that favor corporate, profit-oriented agri-business.

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Kabsat Kandu looked impressed. I half-expected him to ask next whether rattan seedlings were available at the local BFD nursery, so he could start planting.

His next remark hit like a sniper’s shot: “How long does it take to grow an authentic rattan whip? I’m particularly interested in the spikelets and barbs.”

“Why the morbid interest?”

I was floored by his reply: “I’d like to use it to flog corrupt officials who plundered our resources. A billion lashes for every billion pesos stashed away.”#

(Email your feedback to jun@nordis.net)

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