|
The Global Rattan Programme is a new initiative from INBAR aimed at focussing attention on doing sustainable development with rattan in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with a focus on developing partnerships, particularly between Asia and Africa, the only continents in which rattans are native.
Rattans are spiny, climbing palms. Some 600 species grow in the tropical forests of Asia and Africa, with around 50 traded commercially. Unlike bamboo, rattan does not re-grow rapidly and is seldom sustainably managed. Over-exploitation and loss of habitat have led to a dramatic reduction in the rattan resource over the last 50 years.
Rattan is used locally for bridges, netting and baskets. Most is gathered by villagers and forest dwellers and in some places communities have developed highly skilful management systems - such as the rattan gardens in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Commercially rattan is mainly used to make furniture and craft goods for export. Recorded world trade in rattan is about the same as that of bamboo - $2.5bn. Rattan collection is often separated from furniture manufacture so the poorest people do not benefit from the value of the finished product. But furniture and other products could be made by small craft industries to increase local incomes significantly. For example, collectors in Ghana who send rattans to commercial factories earn about $45 per month, while furniture makers can earn up to $250 per month from producing items for local sale.
Product quality and design are two of the most important factors influencing marketability. Export of rattan products can make significant contributions to national incomes. Indonesia is the largest exporter, earning $182 million from rattan in 2002.
Some countries have introduced export bans on rattan poles and semi-processed rattan to protect resources and boost local manufacturing, but in some cases this has led to reduced demand for the canes, and some harvesters and processors have gone out of business.
 The Global Rattan Programme works to help improve rattan resource management and development; develop community-based livelihoods; improve products and markets, promote information sharing and awareness raising, and enhance the policy and institutional environments. The programme takes a partnerships approach to achieving this, and has a growing network of partners, linked under the Global Rattan Network.
|
