Can a sustainable use of rattan boost communities, businesses and the envi­ronment? Yes, this is the firm belief of WWF, villagers and local governments who run a successful program for better harvesting of wild rattan. For the villag­ers it means higher incomes.

In Sopphouan in Laos, a small vil­lage of around 400 inhabitants in Bolik­hamxay province near the Vietnamese border, the sustainable rattan project has already brought concrete results.

“Last year our village earned 8 500 000 kip (approximately 1 000 USD) in additional income from rattan seed­lings and rattan cane. This is an impor­tant contribution to local livelihoods. Farmers are otherwise wholly depend­ent on family­based rice production and other small­scale crops”, declared village head Sonephet Keomany, 45 years.

70 percent of rattan sales go to the village fund. This fund contributes to a local school and health service – and 30 per cent goes to individual members.

The global rattan trade is estimated at 4 billion USD – and more than 50 spe­cies of rattan in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam form the basis of an extensive processing industry. Vietnam exports al­most 60 percent of finished rattan prod­ucts to the EU. Around 90 percent in the Mekong sub region comes from natural forests – but rattan stocks are being de­pleted at an unsustainable rate.

To secure long term use of the re­source, villagers have started nurseries and plantations, which they proudly show to visitors. This bold initiative entails an entirely new way of thinking and requires careful long­term planning. Previously rattan was only harvested in the wild state, directly from the forest. “This is a different way of doing things

WWF and IKEa support vIllagErs For bEttEr harvEstIng oF WIld rattan

sustainable rattan production in Greater Mekong region brings hope to forests and people

and it changes everything. Earlier there was no control and only poorly imple­mented forest management. Now we have successfully identified key rattan species and have developed a model for

sustainable management”, says Bouaph­et Bounsourath, project manager from WWF in Laos who works closely with the villagers. >>

Rattan seedlings and rattan cane often bring an extra income to the village, where the farmers other-wise wholly depend on rice production and other small-scale crops.

sonephet KeomanyHead of Sopphouan village, Laos

“last year our village earned 8 500 000 kip (approximately 1 000 usD) in ad-ditional income from rattan seedlings and rattan cane. this provides an extra income for us rice farmers.”

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WWF and IKEa support vIllagErs For bEttEr harvEstIng oF WIld rattan

>> “We have set up a protected forest area with pilot research plots and pro­vided rattan handicrafts training.”

The project called “A switch to sus­tainable rattan harvest and production” has been carried out since 2006 together with forest researchers and government institutions. A new phase of the project was launched in 2009, mainly with funding from the European Union and IKEA.

“We are well on the way to engag­ing more than a hundred communities in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in sus­tainable rattan production. This will support local economies and encourage people to become good guardians of the forests, says Thibault Ledecq, regional rattan program manager.

“People didn’t know much about harvesting rattan before the project started. They often went into the forest and cut down everything they saw. Now they know how to collect and plant rat­tan. They also use the seedlings”, says Roth Rem, Head of Rattan Committee in the Cambodian village Prek Thnot in Kampot province.

For IKEA wood­based products rep­resent around 50 percent of sales world wide. Sustainable use of renewable re­sources is crucial for the company.

While Indonesia is at present the biggest raw material supplier for rattan globally there is a great potential in the Mekong region.

“We look forward to soon being able to buy larger quantities of rattan prod­ucts from Vietnam. Many processing industries will deliver environmentally improved products directly to IKEA and other companies in the European market, boosting local economies and securing better management of the forest”, says Thomas Bergmark, Sus­tainability Manager at IKEA Group.

The overall goal is that by 2015 half of the rattan processing in the region will be environmentally cleaner, more competi­tive and return a greater profit.

Around a hundred villages in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are involved in better harvesting of wild rattan.

target projects map

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

VIETNAM

LAOS

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Rattans climb upwards with the help of their own spines and other plants.

at first glanCe you might think a chair or table is made of bamboo, but if it is curved it is usually rattan. Bam­boo and rattan are both two important non­timber forest products supporting the livelihood of millions of people. The conservation of their genetic resources is crucial.

Rattan consists of 600 different spe­cies of climbing palms belonging to the Palmae family, and is used for food, con­struction materials, traditional medi­cine, and furniture.

It uses other plants to climb upwards (often with the help of the spines) to reach the sunlight. Rattans have been known to grow up to hundreds of me­tres long.

Seedlings grow well in forests gaps where sunlight can penetrate to the ground. Rattans grow slowly as seed­lings, but mature plants grow faster.

Rattan plays an important role in international trade and generates a sig­nificant amount of foreign exchange. 80 percent of the world’s raw production comes from Indonesia, but the Mekong region including producers such as Vi­etnam and Cambodia are growing mar­kets.

laos has 41 perCent of its territory covered by forests. 51 rattan species have been recorded. Approximately nine spe­cies are used in local factories and four species are used in the household.

CamboDia’s rattan resourCes are scattered across the country. 18 species have been recorded and 12 rattan com­mercial species have a potential for sus­tainable management.

Vietnam has iDentifieD 35 rattan spe­cies so far. 20 of these can be used and 8 species are for commercial purposes.

Harvesting is labour intensive and typically carried out by teams of villag­

rattan – climbing palms

WWF and IKEa support vIllagErs For bEttEr harvEstIng oF WIld rattan

ers. It requires great skill to first cut the rattan and then split off the outer layer and peel out the core rattan. Washing is necessary to remove any stains and clean the product, stripping away the layer of silica that tends to coat the rattan core.

Rattan shoots of many species are edible. They are usually slightly bitter, but preferred food by forest dwellers. They are often sold at local markets.

More than 50 species of rattan form the basis of the rattan processing industry in the Mekong region.The map of Southeast Asia includes the Mekong region which has a great potential to increase rattan production.

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Rattan shoots are tasty and nutrious and they are often sold at local markets.

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arounD a hunDreD Villages and several thousand people are involved in the sustainable rattan project in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

We asked Thibault Ledecq, Rattan Regional Programme Manager about the project.1. What is the most exciting thing happening at the moment?“The project is moving in the right direc­tion. We are proud that we have helped set up a Rattan Association in Cambo­dia and published the first field guide. Knowledge is important for sustainable development. The reaction from govern­ments, NGOs and research institutes has been very positive since the project launch. A new synergy is taking place between the three countries. Our project managers Mr Ou Ratanak (Cambodia), Mr Bouapeth Bounsourath (Laos) and Dr Vu Que Anh (Vietnam) are doing a great job!”

WWF and IKEa support vIllagErs For bEttEr harvEstIng oF WIld rattan

thibault leDeCq

baCKgrounD: Born in Belgium, raised in Africa and for the last twelve years living and working in Southeast Asia. Based in Ventiane, Laos.

family: Wife and three children

WorK: Manages the rattan projects in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos with Mr Ou Ratanak, Cambodia, Mr Bouaphet Bounsourath, Laos and Dr Vu Que Anh, Vietnam.

hiDDen talent: Rugby

“Yes, implementation of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification has begun and a fair trade certification is on the agenda. We hope to get the first certi­fied products by the beginning of 2011. We recently received confirmation from Lund University in Sweden that they will provide three students to work elaborat­ing design ideas. All this is very good news.”

groups. Capacity building is an ongoing process and we will continue to encour­age more active community participa­tion. We estimate that more than 7000 people participate.”4. Vietnam is the biggest rattan producer – what is happening there?“Six rattan processing companies sup­ported by the project have developed new product designs. These will be displayed at the Trade Fair event in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam this spring. Laotian and Cambodian companies

Rattan Regional Programme Manager Thibault Ledecq visits a nursery in Sopphouan village in Laos.

7000 villagers are already involved ...

Rattan gives an extra in-come to many villages, says Bouaphet Bounsou-rath, project manager from Laos.

“So far 35 rat-tan species have been recorded in my country”, says Vu Que Anh from Vietnam.

Ou Ratanak, rattan country manager in Cambodia, works closely with the vil-lagers for a sustainable harvesting of rattan.

2. What is the latest news from the field projects? “In Laos and Cambodia the first con­tract between rattan processing compa­nies and local villagers has been agreed upon. It is positive to have access to the market. We are making progress to­wards FSC certification in Laos and in Vietnam a rattan mapping report gives an overview of the industry. The project also inspired an IKEA supplier to link with local producers involved in sustain­able rattan management.” 3. How many villages are involved?“Around a hundred villages across the region, including 80 rattan producer

will go there to meet their Vietnamese counterparts. This will be the first of­ficial contact between companies from the three participating countries.5. Can we expect new certified products in the near future – and can you tell us more about the new rattan design ideas?

6. Challenges and hopes for the future? Tell us …“We face substantial challenges, but we believe that we are well on track.... It is necessary to secure capacity building for all stake­holders and support con­tacts between processing companies and villagers. We will engage companies to source rattan from well­managed for­ests, implement cleaner production, and motivate all those concerned.

I am hopeful for the future.”

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Photo: Louise Carlsson

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the WWf-iKea sustainable Rattan Harvesting and Production Project is part of a major effort to encourage sus­tainable rattan production and supply in the Mekong region. The current phase of the project was launched in 2009 and will continue until 2011.

The project, which was started in 2006, promotes, promotes a sustainable rattan industry that will help save the re­maining forests of the Greater Mekong Region – at the same time as it will ben­efit local communities and economies.

Cleaner production techniques, ac­cess to market and innovative design are other areas jointly funded by IKEA, the European Union and DEG, a German development finance institution.

the WWf-iKea sustainable rattan project

WWF and IKEa support vIllagErs For bEttEr harvEstIng oF WIld rattan

goals •By 2011 – 100 Communities

in Cambodia, laos and vietnam will be engaged in sustainable rattan pro-duction, poverty reduction and will sell quality rattan product to regional and international markets. a sustain-able rattan industry contributes to maintain 50 000 hectares of forest in the Mekong region.

•By 2011 – 40 perCent of all targeteD small and me-dium enterprises in the supply chain will be engaged in cleaner rattan production.

•By 2011 – 15 perCent of proCessing inDustries will provide environmentally friendly products to European and worldwide markets.

• By 2015 – 50 perCent of the rattan processing industry will be environmentally cleaner and more competitive and generating better economic returns.

unsustainable harVestThe rattan sector faces major depletions in domestic resources due to unsustain-able harvesting and forest degradation.

WastageUp to 55 percent of the harvest is wasted along the supply chain, from the village level to end product manufacturing of products.

pollutionHighly toxic substances such as pesti-cides, synthetic surface finishing, glue, petrol, diesel and bleaches are often discharged directly into the environment.

They cause air, water and soil pollution and health problems for workers.

unreliable anD illegal supplyInappropriate national legislation and weak enforcement can undercut legitimate producers.

loW qualityOver 90 percent of rattan products from Cambodia and Laos do not comply with required product quality standards and lack proper licenses. These factors, along with a weak environmental policy, reduces the sector’s competitiveness and access to international markets.

Challenges for rattan production

Ket sovanHead of Prek Thnot, Cambodia

“before villages were dependent on fishing, now they can craft rattan products and conserve the forest at the same time. the villages have also agreed to patrol the forest, which is positive. now it is important to increase capacity and develop the marketing aspect. if people can sell rattan chairs themselves they will get more money. the local people should learn from the private sector.”

A growing number of rattan processing industries will provide environmentally friendly products to consumers.

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WWF and IKEA work for a more sustainable rattan productionWhat does rattan mean for you and your village?

WWF and IKEa support vIllagErs For bEttEr harvEstIng oF WIld rattan

results so far – rattan project (2006–2010)•Activitiesin40villagesinLaos,40in

vietnam and 20 villages in Cambodia

•80producergroupshavebeenestab-lished working with capacity building, harvesting of wild rattan, rattan nurseries and handicraft production

•7villagesand60householdsaregain-ing extra income in laos and Cambodia

•Launchofacommunitybasedsustain-able rattan management and produc-tion model in laos and Cambodia

•Around800hectarsofforestareundersustainable management

•Identificationofkeycommercialrattanspecies

•Publicationofamanualforsustainablemanagement in laos and Cambodia

•Increasedknowledgeaboutrattan and strengthening research capacity at national university level

•Firstrattantaxonomicfieldguidelaunched

•Approximately60000seedlingshavebeen produced

•Contractbetweenvillageproducersand rattan for small and medium sized enterprises

•10000canesharvested(estimated 8tons)fromsustainablymanaged forest in laos

•60hectarsofrattancommercialspe-cies have been planted

•Interestfromplantationcompanies to intercrop rattan with trial plots

•ContinueFSCcertificationworkwiththeexpectedfirst50tonsofcertifiedrattanbybeginningof2011

•5Vietnamesecompanieshaveex-pressed an interest in contracts with laotian processing companies

•Countrymappingwithoverviewoftherattan situation in each country.

A variety of rattan handicraft on its way to the market.

Fore more information, please contact: Thibault Ledecq, Rattan Programme Manager, Sustainable Rattan Programme,WWF Greater Mekong, P. O Box 7871, House no.39, Unit 5, Ban Saylom, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane, Lao PDR. E-mail: thibault.ledecq@wwfgreatermekong.org, Tel: +856 21 216 080 /ext 122, mobile: +856 20 241 31 02

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tongin KeomanyVillager, Sopphouan village, Laos

“rattan is good for food and handicrafts. i weave lots of useful things for the household.”

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roth remHead of Rattan Committee, Prek Thnot Village, Kampot, Cambodia

“before the project started people did not know much about harvesting rattan. they just went into the forest and cut down everything they saw. now they know how to collect and plant rattan as well as use the seedlings.”

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Chang sophaHead of Marketing, Prek Thnot Village, Kampot, Cambodia

“the project is very positive because it provides an additional income. i´m happy that women can now earn some money for themselves. more villagers collect and make rattan products than before. previously they sold everything to middle men.”

Text: Marie von Zeipel, WWF; Background and facts: WWF Greater Mekong