How Certification Can Further BenefitForest-Based Communities:

The Case of Rattan Gardens and Forests andParticipatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)

The ASFN 6th ConferenceInle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar

June 1-3, 2015

Why?• Rattan has long been known as

an important NTFP with greatpotential in Indonesia

• There is current movement touse green products

• Through certification: opportunityto provide added value to rattanfarmers and at the same timepromote the processing and thesustainable management ofrattan

Certification3rd Party Certification Participatory Guarantee System

(PGS)“Participatory Guarantee

Systems are locally focusedquality assurance systems.

They certify producers basedon active participation of

stakeholders and are built on afoundation of trust, socialnetworks and knowledgeexchange”. (IFOAM, 2008)

What we do?

Participatory Guarantee Systemfor rattan

ROLEs: Rotan Lestari (Sustainable Rattan)

PGS Rattan:Rotan Lestari (Sustainable Rattan)

• The PGS rattan system and standard was developed throughresearch, interviews and discussions with stakeholders at districtand national level.

• Several group discussions and workshops were held to gatherinputs and feedback from farmers, weavers, government officials,scientist, private sector, representatives and NGO representatives.

• The standard developed consists of 5 criteria: legality, productionsustainability, ecological sustainability, socio-cultural factors andtraceability.

• After the standard finalized, it was pilot tested in Kutai Barat, EastKalimantan with traditional Dayak Benuaq rattan baskets called“anjat”.

This process from system and standard development to pilot testingtook 2 years to complete.

PILOT TESTINGKUTAI BARAT, INDONESIALocation : Desa Pepas Eheng,Sub-district : Barong TongkokDistrict : Kutai BaratProvince : Kalimantan TimurCountry : Indonesia

BINA USAHA ROTAN (BUR)BUR is one of artisan groups in Eheng villagewhere most the members are women. BUR’svision is to improve the welfare of artisans.BUR’s handicraft products are sold at warungBUR (craft stall owned and managed by BUR).They also expanded marketing locations inthe town near Eheng village up to the capitalcity of Samarinda. Their product alsomarketed through Craft Kalimantanmarketing arm Borneo Chic shop in Jakarta.

Pilot Testing ROLEs:- 20 rattan farmers and weavers- 8 rattan gardens

PGS Unit

For the PGS unit in Kutai Barat, the unit members consist of:Representatives from P3R (the Association of Rattan Farmers and Weavers), the multi-stakeholderNTFP-Forum, the Forestry Department, the Department of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, theDepartment of Environmental, and local NGOs

The establishment of the PGS unit at the district level

Process and Impacts of Initial PGS Trials

In July 2014, the first 190 “anjat” PGS rattanproducts were successfully sold during and

around International Folk Art Market (IFAM)in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.

18,822 people attended this event, more than half attendees(75.3% )came from outside Santa Fe from 37 different states

and at least 28 foreign countries.

• In the initial stage,incentive of 5% was firstused and applied on therattan products. The nexttrial runs, the incentivehas been raised to 10%.

• Incentives encouragemore farmers andweavers to maintain theirrattan gardens

• Weavers have becomemore aware of theirsource of rattan materials

• Expanding to Sulawesi

• In the initial stage,incentive of 5% was firstused and applied on therattan products. The nexttrial runs, the incentivehas been raised to 10%.

• Incentives encouragemore farmers andweavers to maintain theirrattan gardens

• Weavers have becomemore aware of theirsource of rattan materials

• Expanding to Sulawesi

Process and Impact of Initial PGS Trial

Establishment of PGS National Council

May 2015Ministry of Environment and Forestry, rattan farmers (Kalimantan andSulawesi), 2 rattan associations, 9 NGOs, researchers

Lessons and RecommendationChallenges and OpportunitiesChallenges:- It was initially difficult for weavers to do

regular recording and reporting- Different stakeholders at first had different

levels of understanding of the system- In the future, to be able to cover its own costs- To test the durability of the system- Administrative layers- The perception that all certification systems

are complicated and expensive

Opportunities:There are still 222 other village in Kutai Baratdistrict, not to mention 9 districts in the whole EastKalimantan, and the potential for expansion acrossthe island is still large

Lessons and RecommendationChallenges and OpportunitiesChallenges:- It was initially difficult for weavers to do

regular recording and reporting- Different stakeholders at first had different

levels of understanding of the system- In the future, to be able to cover its own costs- To test the durability of the system- Administrative layers- The perception that all certification systems

are complicated and expensive

Opportunities:There are still 222 other village in Kutai Baratdistrict, not to mention 9 districts in the whole EastKalimantan, and the potential for expansion acrossthe island is still large

Lessons and RecommendationThe PGS rattan system appears to be promising andneeded in these times where prices are depressedand where rattan gardens are being converted toother land uses. However it still must be tested inmainstream markets and must be upscaled to anational mechanism.

The PGS rattan system appears to be promising andneeded in these times where prices are depressedand where rattan gardens are being converted toother land uses. However it still must be tested inmainstream markets and must be upscaled to anational mechanism.

Thank You

Timeline

2012

• Developingidea, concept,draft ofstandard andmechanism

• Domesticmarket surveyfor certifiedrattan

2013

• Internationalmarket survey

• DistrictWorkshop

• Finalization ofthe scheme

• Nationalworkshop

2014

• Pilot testing• Replication

2015

• Promotionalefforts &presentationsto buyers,adjusments ofproduct

• Participationin trade fair