RP is No. 3 rattan producer in Asean

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – The Philippines now ranks third among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the largest area planted to rattan.

To date, the country has 17,395 hectares of rattan plantation, next to Malaysia’s 23,157 ha and Indonesia’s 118,802 ha.

The Paper Industry Corp. of the Philippines (PICOP) in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, has the biggest rattan area, followed by Talacogon in Agusan del Sur.

Other rattan plantations are those set up by private-initiative projects assisted by the government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Dr. Aida Lapis, a rattan expert of the Los Baños-based DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development (ERDB) told this writer.

"All ASEAN countries have established rattan plantations," noted ERDB headed by Director Celso P. Diaz, in recognition of the value of this forest vine species to their economies.

As it is, rattan is still one of Asia’s most important nonwood forest products, it being a prime source of foreign exchange after timber. It earns for those countries millions of dollars in terms of exports yearly.

"For many years," ERDB added, "rattan has been a major source of livelihood to many low-income rural families. It remains the most important source of material for making baskets and mats in the Southeast Asian region and principal raw material to furniture and handicraft industries."

However, it noted, there is now a several decreasing supply of rattan from the wilds because of overexploitation and loss of forest habitat. Little effort has been given to manage these resources on a sustainable basis, resulting in the decline of raw material supply.

As a step toward sustainable development of rattan in Southeast Asia, DENR-ERDB and the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research Institute (FPRDI) headed by Director Florence Soriano implemented a one-year (April 2003-March 2004) pre-project titled "Application of Production and Utilization Technologies for Rattan Sustainable Development in the ASEAN Member Countries".

Coordinated by ERDB Director Diaz and funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTC), the pre-project surveyed the status of the rattan industry in the nine ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Maynmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The survey found the need for improved techniques in rattan plantation establishment and management.

"There is also a need for improved techniques on harvesting to reduce wastage during the process," Diaz added.

As a part of the pre-project activity, the ASEAN Regional Conference on Rattan was held in Manila in January 2004. The conference was attended by representatives of ASEAN member countries and guests from India and ITOO.

The ASEAN representatives presented the status of the rattan resources in their respective countries.

"The conference was able to identify the needs and opportunities of ASEAN countries on rattan production and utilization technologies that are necessary to be undertaken by ASEAN member countries for the sustainable development of rattan that can pave the way for poverty alleviation in the rural communities," Diaz said.

Dr. Lapis also asserted: "Although technologies on seed production, nursery, and plantation establishments are available, transfer of technologies to the direct beneficiaries must be done. If this happens, raw materials as well as its products will be competitive in the world market."

To further develop the efficient production and utilization technologies on rattan, ERDB through a collaborative partnership among research institutions in ASEAN countries, formulated a full project proposal.

The proposed four-year project has been submitted to ITOO for funding consideration.